Coronavirus crisis: Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses nation regarding COVID-19

Annabel Hennessy and Sarah IsonThe West Australian
VideoPrime Minister announces new restrictions on gatherings to no more than two people, six month moratorium on rental evictions.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has limited all public gatherings to just two people and said all people over 70 should be self-isolating at home.

The latest measures aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus were announced following the National Cabinet meeting this afternoon.

Speaking in Canberra this afternoon the PM said outside of when people were in their own homes, people should not be outside in groups of more than two.

WATCH THE PM’S FULL ADDRESS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

“There has been a restriction of 10 people at a gathering in an outdoor area or shopping centre or anything like this... That advice is now strengthened to say that it should be reduced to two persons,” the PM said.

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“States and territories will determine whether they want to make this an enforceable limit in the same way the 10 person limit is already being enforced.

“We've agreed that in all cases this is the strong advice of all states and territories. Unless it is your household, a family, those living at your residence, with one other person as a gathering outside as required. That provides, importantly, for those who may need to get daily exercise.”

From tomorrow all boot camps and outdoor gyms will be closed.

The PM said people should not be leaving their homes unless they had to go to work, were buying essential items, were receiving medical attention or exercising.

Those with chronic illness, over 70 or Indigenous people over 50 should all self-isolate.

"Stay-at-home except for the following reasons shopping for what you need, food and other essential (items)... for medical care or compassionate reasons, to exercise with compliance of public gathering roles which have already outlined and for work and education," he said.

“This does not mean they cannot go outside… but they should limit contact with others as much as possible.

"There 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..and indigenous people over the age of 50. "

Mr Morrison also announced a six-month freeze on evictions would also be put in place.

“ State and Territories will be moving to put a moratorium on evictions of persons as a result of financial distress if they are unable to meet their commitments and so there would be a moratorium on evictions for the next six months under those rental arrangements,” he said.

“My message to tenants, particularly commercial tenants, and commercial landlords, is a very straightforward one - we need you to sit down, talk to each other and work this out about looking at the businesses which have been closed, businesses that may have had a significant reduction in their revenues.

“We need landlords and tenants to sit down and come up with arrangements that enable them to get through this crisis so on the other side, the landlord has a tenant which is a business that can pay rent, and the business is a business that can re-emerge on the other side of this and be able to go on and employ people on the other side of these arrangements.”

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