Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a number of strategies to be implemented across Australia today in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus, including a ban on indoor gatherings of over 100 people.
Just days after announcing a ban on mass gatherings of over 500, which has since resulted in the cancellation of large music events including Download Festival, Bluesfest and Groovin The Moo, as well as Splendour In The Grass being rescheduled, Morrison confirmed the ban on "non-essential" indoor gatherings "effective now as of today" at a press conference this morning.
"If we slow the spread, then we do save lives," Morrison said.
While some areas will be exempt from the ban, including airports, trains, buses, medical and health service facilities, emergency service facilities and supermarkets, any non-essential events, including "social activities or entertainment" are not permitted at this time.
Morrison also announced Government has upgraded the country's travel ban to level four, which means that Australians are being advised to not travel internationally at all.
"That is the first time that has ever happened in Australian history," Morrison said of the travel ban upgrade.
The news comes after the Virgin Australia airline suspended all international flights and cut domestic operations by 50%. Virgin will suspend international flights from 30 March until at least 14 June.
For more information about how COVID-19 is impacting the music industry, follow the link here.
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