PM’s message as virus crisis deepens: ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’
An outbreak of COVID-19 is now expected in Australia before winter as the commonwealth prepares to fund health upgrades and economic stimulus.
Scott Morrison has sought to reassure Australians that the health system will cope when – not if – the novel coronavirus spreads throughout the country.
But the dire outlook for the economy has the Prime Minister worried that it won’t only be tourists who stop spending money in Australia but nervous locals as well.
Calling for a business as usual approach to the looming pandemic, Morrison has shifted focus from extending Australia’s travel restrictions to ensuring hospitals and GPs are able to provide the next line of defence.
With more countries reporting outbreaks of the virus causing COVID-19, and more infections now being reported outside China than at the source, the best case scenario is Australia avoiding a local outbreak until late April.
That means COVID-19 will inevitably add to the seasonal influenza burden, and pose another threat to vulnerable older Australians and health workers. Health ministers met in Melbourne today to discuss preparedness measures and the need for additional funding.
You might like
So far, Australia has contained the 15 international air travellers found to have COVID-19, with those patients given the all-clear, while another eight cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship passengers in Japan are being treated in their home states.
Morrison hosted a major press conference on preparedness strategies on Thursday and this morning gave no fewer than five TV and radio interviews, urging Australians to remain calm and have faith in the government.
“So you can go to the footy, you can go out to the Chinese restaurant – in fact I encourage you to,” the Prime Minister told Nine’s Today show.
“You can just get about your business. If you are a kid you can go off to school, play with your mate, do all of those things.
Stay informed, daily
“Australia is in the best-placed position to be prepared for this than anywhere else, and so we just want to make sure it stays that way.”
His comments come ahead of the commonwealth making a politically-vexed decision on whether to ease China-focussed travel restrictions holding back the economy, in the belief a local outbreak is inevitable. This is a week-by-week proposition as the virus breaches borders.
Globally, major sporting events have been postponed and the fate of the Tokyo Olympics remains unclear, with Japan even shutting down schools as a precaution. The World Health Organisation has urged governments confronting new outbreaks to act aggressively to contain the virus.
Australia is not at that stage however the response to COVID-19 will not only have a bearing on the domestic tourism, higher education, hospitality and retail sectors, but the nation’s reputation internationally. Queensland is bidding for the 2032 Olympics and has already taken on another event, with a rugby union game transferred from Japan to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad this week revealed COVID-19, and the accompanying travel restrictions and disruptions to global trade, could cost the state’s economy up to $1.7 billion this year alone. That threatens thousands of jobs.
Morrison told ABC Radio’s AM program all governments would have to review health funding and the commonwealth was considering targeted economic stimulus, perhaps in tourism or education, but would not “splash it around”.
He said the best thing Australians could do to support the economy was stay active and keep spending as usual.
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
