CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
As of 6:00am this morning, there have been 6,152 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia. There have been 100 new cases since 6:00am yesterday. Of the 6,152 confirmed cases in Australia, 52 have died from COVID-19.
With the curve beginning to show signs of flattening in Australia, medical experts and politicians say social distancing will more important than ever this Easter weekend – if we want to bring the outbreak under control.
In New South Wales, which is traditionally Australia’s most authoritarian state, police have been cracking down on citizens breaching new social distancing laws with on-the-spot fines of up to $1000.
Here in Queensland and down in Victoria, state governments have introduced similar laws with fines of up to $13,000 for those who really drop the ball.
Police will be accepting very little excuses for those caught outside for reasons other than grocery shopping, going to work, exercising, caring for a loved one, donating blood, obtaining medical care, or attending a wedding or funeral.
As the entire nation realises that they actually enjoy doing exercise, the famous winter past times of jogging and walking have seen a sharp spike in suburban areas.
To avoid any form of human interaction, medical experts are today advising Australians against verbally acknowledging any friends or loved ones they see outside of their homes.
Dr Gorman Duck, chief medical reporter from Betoota’s Public Broadcaster radio, says it is imperative that we only whisper to each other in the street or park.
“Preferably don’t even whisper. Just mouthing ‘hey’ to each other is enough”
“Even with the 1.5 metres. If you see Kelly from Netball on the boardwalk, or your brother’s misso walking laps at the cricket oval – please limit all exchanges to one or two words”
“What we’ve found a lot of people doing is just giving each other the nod, and then texting when they get home. This is by far the healthiest way to catch up”
In a surprising turn of events, Prime Minister Morrison has also echoed the advice of medical experts in a press conference today.
“My own advice is to make sure you don’t ever break your stride. If you can’t finish the verbal exchange in the time it takes to walk past each other, then just cut it short” said the Prime Minister today.
“Take it from me. This will be the hardest few months in many of our lives”
“I ran into Andrew Ettingshausen down on the Cronulla foreshore yesterday morning. Do you know how hard it was to not stop and chew the fat with ET about church and footy?
“Very bloody hard”
MORE TO COME.
