PM: Measures in Place for Another Four Weeks

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison said Australian data showed we are managing to suppress the virus but restrictions will remain in place for the next four weeks while testing capabilities were mobilised.

“Let’s look to the experience of what’s happened overseas, if you too quickly too early then you end up making the situation even worse and I don’t just mean in health terms if you move to early and the health response gets out of control then the economic consequences will be even worse,” said Prime Minister Morrison.

The decision to ease restrictions will be based on a sentinel testing regime to detect any localised outbreaks quickly, including equipping health care workers with more tests and automated contact tracing and the ability to respond to localised outbreaks including use of the Australian Defence Force.

Australia’s fatality rates is comparing favourably to many other countries: UK 13%, Spain 10%, France 13%, and Netherlands 11% while Australia is at less than 1 percent.

The Prime Minister said while each state would have different measures for schooling, health advice was it is safe to send children to school and that the risk of infection is more likely from adults, “teachers are more at risk in the staff room than they are in the classroom.”

Next week the government will reassess elective surgery, but it will be based on the availability on personal protective equipment.

In May the government plans to reconvene parliament.