(Bloomberg) -- Australia is advising against non-essential gatherings of 500 people or more from Monday, in an escalation of the nation’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Friday the move would not impact schools, universities or public transport. Morrison also urged Australians to reconsider their need to travel overseas. He said he was acting on the advice of Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy.
Infectious-disease experts had been urging Australia to follow the example of places like Taiwan and Singapore that have limited new cases through blanket-bans of sporting events, concerts and other mass gatherings. The nation’s official tally of confirmed cases stood at 156 on Friday, up 24% from the previous day, with three fatalities.
Morrison’s announcement is the latest in a string of measures taken globally to address the spread of the virus.
Italy has shut down most of the country, except for essential services like grocery stores and pharmacies. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said he is banning gatherings of more than 500 people, a move that will impact Broadway. The New York rules don’t apply to schools, hospitals, nursing homes and mass transit.
Morrison said further details of how the measure would be implemented would be announced in coming days
