This was published 6 years ago
If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
We've wrapped up out coverage for Monday, March 16. If you wish to follow our live coverage for Tuesday, click here.
Here's what you need to know:
NSW Health has released the locations of all 29 assessment clinics across the state
Up to 150,000 Australians could die from the coronavirus under a worst-case scenario
Millions of people across the world are going into temporary exile to stem the spread of the new viral pandemic.
A 14-day isolation for those infected or at risk of exposure is considered one of the best ways to slow down the virus – in the absence of a vaccine – and so stave off a sudden crush in emergency departments.
So what are you expected to do and who has to stay home? Should you prepare ahead of time? And do governments have powers to enforce quarantines?
Melbourne & Olympic Parks has announced the temporary closure of AAMI Park, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Arena and Margaret Court Arena.
In a statement sent out on Monday evening, they said they were following the advice of Victoria's Chief Health Officer and the State of Emergency which had been declared.
The ban will be in place until at least April 13th.
This closure does not include the precinct's public open spaces and car park, but the statement said the group "encouraged all members of the public to stay informed on the latest advice from government and make the best decisions for themselves and their families."
The list of affected events includes:
Swivel chairs and standing desks are now in short supply as thousands of employees scramble to set up home offices amid efforts by workplaces to pre-empt widespread self-isolation measures.
At an Officeworks store in the Melbourne CBD, customers were told there was only a single computer monitor left for sale in the entire store by Monday afternoon. Backorders were not expected to arrive until April.
Ryan Byrne was one of the lucky ones as he readied himself to work from home for more than a week.
"The screen I wanted was actually sold out, and I think I got the second last one left of another model," he said. "I expected it to be this busy, really. I think with what's happening with the world at the moment, everyone will be working from home soon."
Opera Australia may be forced to sell off one or both of its properties in Surry Hills and Alexandria to stave off the threat of bankruptcy caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
Chief executive Rory Jeffes revealed management had been in crisis talks to keep the company afloat after it announced it would cancel the remainder of its Sydney Summer season, including its flagship Opera on the Harbour event that was to open on March 27.
Griffith University has announced it will cancel lectures with more than 300 attendees and the University of Southern Queensland has postponed its semester one graduation ceremonies.
The announcements came after the University of Queensland suspended all coursework teaching for one week from Monday to "accelerate" efforts to manage the coronavirus pandemic, after another student tested positive.
Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas, which was set to take place on the first weekend of April, has been cancelled.
The three-day event was set to include talks from Edward Snowden, Roxane Gay, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, and Jon Ronson.
Ticket holders will be contacted in relation to the processing of refunds.
“As a not-for-profit charity that is facing a substantial financial loss related to the cancellation of FODI, we are asking ticket holders to consider making a tax-deductible donation, of all or part of their ticket price, to support the centre and future presentations of FODI," Co-founder Dr Simon Longstaff said.
Schools across Sydney reported 25 per cent drops in attendance on Monday as parents worried about coronavirus kept their children home, while some private schools began closing their physical campuses and running lessons online.
As health authorities said schools should remain open but cancel events and assemblies and focus on hygiene, some principals also said they were struggling to buy soap, toilet paper and paper towels.
It comes as a split emerged in the teaching profession over whether schools should remain open, with some concerned about their own health and that of their families', but others saying closures would put disadvantaged students at risk.
As nappies began vanishing from supermarket shelves across Australia amid panic over the coronavirus, it occurred to Elana this was one area where she could really assist.
Elana runs workshops in Melbourne on a “lost art” - how to use cloth nappies.
Instead of holding workshops attended by 20 to 30 people, she has decided to run group Skype sessions to help bust some of the myths around reusable nappies.
Premier Mark McGowan has announced a freeze on increases to household fees and charges and the fast-tracking of payroll tax relief to help cushion the WA economy from the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The stimulus package, worth $607 million, comes on top of a range of other measures that were designed to kickstart the state economy in 2019 before the onset of the coronavirus crisis, including $290 million for school and hospital maintenance.
WA public servants would also be entitled to COVID-19 sick leave.
The state government had already announced it was looking to freeze power and water charges in the upcoming state budget, but Mr McGowan said on Monday afternoon this would be extended to car registration payments, public transport fares and the emergency services levy.
These payments would frozen until the middle of 2021.