Yesterday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia would be closing its borders from 9 pm tonight to all non-residents and non-citizens.
With the country reaching 709 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the announcement follows measures earlier this week which enforced bans on outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people and indoor gatherings of more than 100.
Scott Morrison has announced that Australia will be closing its borders from 9 pm tonight, and the travel ban could remain in place for months.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has implied that the travel ban could remain in place for six months, or even longer. Speaking with the ABC, Frydenberg described that the length of the ban would depend on advice given from medical experts in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
Morrison said the closure was essential due to the rapidly rising number of cases of the virus in the country, a majority of which are thought to have been newly imported. Any Australians returning after the travel ban will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
The travel ban will have a drastic effect on Australia’s already struggling tourism sector and the prime minister has revealed he is working on a new stimulus package, including Newstart payments for those who have lost their jobs. He is also allegedly in talks with banks to make sure they don’t foreclose people’s mortgages.
The travel ban will take effect fro 9 pm tonight.
