The new restrictions come after an elite team of academics quietly recruited by the federal government to help develop Australia's social distancing strategy recommended an immediate,hardline and costly lockdown to boost the chances of a quick national recovery once the COVID-19 crisis ends.
Urging a"go now,go hard,go smart"strategy that would shut down schools,the expert group advised Health Minister Greg Hunt and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy an estimated 20 to 30 per cent of Australians would not comply with the measures and strengthened public communication was needed.
The final advice from 22 eminent specialists from the Group of Eight research universities,seen byThe Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age,endorsed a major escalation,urging Australia to seize a"short and vital window"and introduce"strong,immediate and co-ordinated social distancing measures,accompanied by an enhanced COVID-19 testing regime"to be sustained in the long term.
Mr Hunt began preparing the public for the tougher measures on Tuesday after the first stage of shutdowns was enacted over the weekend. He warned the banning of all pubs,clubs and gyms was"not the last stage,and I think I should be very upfront and honest about that".
Australian cases topped 2000 by Wednesday,after doubling in less than three days,particularly in NSW and Victoria. An eighth Australian died of the virus on Tuesday after contracting it on theRuby Princess cruise ship,which docked in Sydney last week.
"The general direction,obviously,is about people spending more time at home,obviously keeping the distance,"Mr Hunt said."House parties,they're out,let me be absolutely clear on that."