'We are in unchartered territory': Australia's coronavirus lockdown measures further tightened - SBS News

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says social distancing measures will be further tightened in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

The number of people who can gather outdoors has been reduced from 10 to 2.

"In addition, public playgrounds, outside gyms and skate parks will be closed as from tomorrow. And boot camps will be reduced to two, which doesn't really make it a boot camp - that makes it a private session with your trainer." 

Australians are being urged to stay at home with a limited number of exceptions. 

Those circumstances include: shopping for essential supplies, medical care, exercise complying with the two-person rule, and work requirements. 

People aged over 70 are being strongly advised to stay at home.

"This is not a compulsion, this is strong advice - that people aged 70 and over should stay at home and self-isolate for their own protection. To the maximum extent practical.

"These arrangements should also apply to those with chronic illness, over 60, and Indigenous persons over the age of 50."

In clarifying the scope of the two-person rule, Mr Morrison said that physical contact should be limited only to household members. The two-person rule would also apply to shopping centres.

"The strong advice is do not gather groups. Just don't do it. When you go out shopping, you just go out for what you need, you just do it and go home. It is not a time for browsing.

"It is not a time for catching up with friends or bumping into people and having a long conversation. You can't do that any more."

Freeze on evictions

State and territories will be moving to put on a six-month freeze on evictions of tenants who are unable to meet their financial commitments.

Mr Morrison appealed to landlords to discuss the issue with their tenants.

"We need you to sit down, talk to each other and work this out. Look at businesses which may have a significant reduction in their revenues.

"We want people to sit down and work this out."

He said further details would be forthcoming on government measures to facilitate "co-operative activity" involving tenants, landlords and the banks. 

"There is no rule book for this. We are in unchartered territory but the goal should be shared," he said.

"And that is a business that can reopen on the other side, not weighed down by excessive debts because of rental arrears, a landlord that has a tenant so that they can continue into the future to be able to support the investments that they have made; and banks that have clients, both the landlords and the businesses.

Early signs of flattening curve

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says the ramped up measures are "radical".

He said while many Australians had so far complied with the lockdown measures, there were cases of people breaching the requirements.

"The science shows that you need more than 90 per cent of the population to be doing it all of the time. So please continue to do what you are doing.

"Continue to follow these rules and hopefully these early signs of flattening will mean that we can keep going and getting a reduction in the rate of increase every day."

More details to come. 

Australians must stay at least 1.5 metres away from other people. Indoors, there must be a density of no more than one person per four square metres of floor space.

If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.

SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus

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