Prime Minister Scott Morrison said a national cabinet made up of state premiers and territory chief ministers would be formed to deal with the crisis. The Department of Foreign Affairs has also advised all Australians to reconsider their need to travel to anywhere in the world.
"Only essential travel should be considered if you are going overseas from this point forward,"Mr Morrison said.
State premiers,chief ministers and Mr Morrison were given the advice by Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy at the Council of Australian Governments meeting on Friday.
"There was growing evidence of greater community transmission of the coronavirus throughout Australia,"Mr Morrison said."The goal here is very straightforward. It is simply to slow the rate of transmission of the coronavirus within Australia."
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Mr Morrison advised against holding non-essential organised public gatherings with crowds of more than 500 people,effectively banning a number of sports and cultural events from allowing spectators to attend. The Royal Easter Show and Bluesfest have been contacted for comment.
He said essential gatherings of more than 500 people would continue.