Coronavirus: Australia closes internal borders, as cruise ships start to leave
- Australia has over 5,200 Covid-19 cases, but infection rates have dropped and PM Scott Morrison says the country is shifting to a ‘suppression’ phase
- There are 19 cruise liners in Australian waters, but these are starting to leave after negotiating with Australian authorities
Several states in Australia are placing checkpoints at their borders to prevent all but essential travel from neighbouring territories, the first time such drastic measures have been taken since the Spanish flu epidemic 100 years ago. Officials urged people to stay home over the upcoming Easter holiday.
Confirmed cases of Covid-19 now exceed 5,200 nationally, with daily increases in new cases falling to single digits over the past several days from between 25 per cent and 30 per cent two weeks ago. There have been 28 deaths.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was shifting to a “suppression” phase in its fight against the highly contagious illness, but stressed that people had to continue to follow orders restricting socialising in public.
“We must continue to do this. Doesn’t matter what the temperature is,” Morrison said in a televised media conference. “If it’s a warm day, don’t go on masses down to the beach. A simple instruction that all Australians expect other Australians to abide by.”