Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced all passengers arriving in Australia must now self-isolate for 14 days, effective immediately. In addition, the new travel advice urges Australians to reconsider non-essential overseas travel.
He also announced all cruise ships from foreign ports would be banned from Australia as part of its strategy to manage the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Morrison said the new rule for overseas arrivals, which was similar to rules announced in New Zealand yesterday, would help “flatten the curve” of the spread of the virus.
Travellers are being warned that the self-isolation rule is mandatory, not voluntary, as of midnight [AEDT] 15 March 2020, and applies to all people arriving in Australia by plane or ship, including Australian citizens and residents. Penalties for refusing to self-isolate would be determined by states and territories, he said.
In Queensland, the penalty for failing to comply with coronavirus-related self-isolation orders was $13,000, while in Western Australia, the penalty is $50,000.
Flights will continue to operate to Australia so Australians who are overseas can return home, while people from the Pacific Islands are allowed to transit through Australia as they return to their home countries, but they will not be allowed to remain in Australia.
The cruise ship ban will apply for an initial 30 days and “will go forward on a rolling basis”.
