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Virus crackdowns overseas could pave the way for Australia as state borders close

As beaches, schools and borders close, the catastrophic impact of the coronavirus outbreak overseas could be a sign of what lies ahead for Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceded on Sunday there were unpredictable and uncertain times approaching, with issues impossible to predict likely to arise in the coming months.

“There will be more issues that even now have not presented themselves or could not even be conceived at this point with what we may face over the next six months,” he told reporters.

Mr Morrison pleaded with Australians to “do your bit” in adhering to social distancing guidelines, after the ignorant display of thousands crammed together at Bondi Beach on Friday.

General view of a closed Bondi Beach after it was closed. Source: AAP
General view of a closed Bondi Beach after it was closed. Source: AAP

“We need you to do your bit when it comes to social distancing and keeping that healthy distancing, to respecting and following the rules that we are setting down but more stronger measures will be coming and they will be coming in more localised areas to deal with outbreaks,” he said.

“What happened at Bondi Beach was not OK.”

Authorities closed all beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for the remainder of the weekend in response, with a maximum capacity of 500 people at a time to be enforced from Monday onwards.

It comes as several new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in backpackers in the Bondi area, NSW Health announced on Sunday.

There were 97 cases confirmed on Sunday, bringing the state's tally to 533.

Nationwide school closures

The Prime Minister was pressed on whether schools were on the cards to be closed but maintained the advice from medical experts was to keep them open for the time being.

“If there were widespread school closures across the country, that that would seriously impact and disrupt the health workforce that is needed to save lives,” he said.

“That is a paramount consideration also of the National Cabinet. But we will continue to consider all of these issues based on the expert advice.”

Mr Morrison said the prospect of nationwide school closures would be a matter for discussion when health officers from each state and territory meet on Sunday night.

“They will form a view on all the range of issues I have asked them to form a view on. That will be presented to all of the ministers this afternoon,” he said.

Dozens of schools, including Australia's most expensive private school Geelong Grammar, have already taken the bold move to close due to concerns over the spread of the virus.

Lifeguards ask people to leave the sand at Bondi Beach following its closure. Source: AAP
Lifeguards ask people to leave the sand at Bondi Beach following its closure. Source: AAP

Xavier College, Ballarat Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Yarra Valley Grammar and Haileybury, all in Victoria, have close the gates, as well as Pymble Ladies College in Sydney.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Sunday school holidays would be brought forward to start on Tuesday.

Lockdowns come into effect overseas

As confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in Australia, following the same trajectory as Italy, many people have begged the government to lock the country down completely.

The dramatic measure was taken by Italy on Saturday (local time), with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte shutting down all non-essential businesses in a desperate bid to curb the virus’ spread.

The move came as the death toll leapt by 793 to 4825 - an increase of 19.6 per cent - the largest daily rise since the virus emerged.

Vo, in the country’s northeast, was recently declared the “healthiest” town despite being in the virus epicentre, which authorities put down to the testing of all of its residents early in the outbreak.

In the United States, California, New York and Illinois have enforced strict lockdown rules to keep residents inside their homes, with Connecticut and Oregon expected to follow suit.

‘Comprehensive shutdown’

Victoria and NSW are set to begin a “comprehensive shutdown” to halt all non-essential services in a drastic effort to stall the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement released on Sunday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced she would inform the National Cabinet that NSW would be rolling out the shutdown over the next 48 hours.

Shortly after the NSW announcement, Victoria also declared it would be shutting down all non-essential activity across the state to combat the spread of coronavirus.

It comes as both South Australia and Western Australia implemented strict rules on Sunday requiring anyone that entered the respective states to undergo a mandatory 14-day isolation period.

A nationwide approach to school closures was to be discussed by the National Cabinet in a meeting on Sunday evening.

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