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As the day unfolded: Scott Morrison announces mass gathering bans for Australia

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.

Natassia Chrysanthos, Laura Chung, Megan Levy and Esther Han

Updated March 13, 2020 — 9:43pm,first published March 13, 2020 — 4:20am

Summary

The Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend and the Sydney Royal Easter Show in April have been cancelled, while football leagues face an uncertain fate
As of Monday, most gatherings with more than 500 people will be advised against (schools, universities and airports will remain open)
Local stocks staged a dramatic recovery in late trade on Friday, erasing losses of more than 8 per cent to close up more than 4 per cent
France joined dozens of countries in shutting all schools, Broadway theatres and Disneyland will temporarily close
There are 208 coronavirus cases in total as of 5.30pm Friday, including 92 in NSW, 36 in Victoria and 35 in Qld.

9.43pm on Mar 13, 2020

We are closing the blog for the evening

Thanks for following along today. A lot happened. Here's what you need to know:

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was diagnosed with coronavirus and is in hospital
The Australian Government banned mass gatherings for the first time in a century
The Royal Easter Show was cancelled and other Sydney events will be postponed
Nationally, there are 208 coronavirus cases, including 92 in NSW, 36 in Victoria and 35 in Queensland
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife is among new cases of the coronavirus that has infected almost 135,000 people and killed more than 4900 worldwide

9.33pm on Mar 13, 2020

Nepal closes Mount Everest, shuts down spring climbing season

Kathmandu: Nepal's government said it was suspending climbing permits for Mount Everest and all of the other peaks in the country due to concern over the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision effectively shuts down the world's tallest mountain since China already closed its side of Everest over similar fears.

A photo of climbers lining up at the summit of Mount Everest in May 2019.AP

Shutting down the popular spring climbing season across the country was a precautionary measure to block any possibility of the spread of the virus, said Surendra Thapa, an official with Nepal's Department of Tourism, which issues climbing permits.

The government also said it was cancelling all visas on arrival for tourists and that those arriving after Saturday would be subject to 14 days of self- quarantine.

Visitors will also no longer be able enter through land borders and must travel through the only international airport, which is situated in the capital, Kathmandu.

Nepal has eight of the highest peaks in the world and the adventurers who head to the country to climb them are a significant source of revenue for the government and the thousands of workers who support the expeditions. So are trekkers and other tourists who flock to the Himalayan nation.

Even before the closure, expedition operators in Nepal had said cancellations for the spring climbing season had been pouring in.

There had been concerns about the new virus and how it could spread among climbers living for weeks on the mountains in shared tents in extreme temperatures. Fever, coughs and colds are already common among climbers.

Nepal so far has had one confirmed case of the virus. The Nepali student who returned home for a holiday from China has already recovered.

9.25pm on Mar 13, 2020

Urgent action needed to keep ahead of the coronavirus curve

It may seem like dystopian science fiction, but this is real, The Sydney Morning Herald's editorial begins.

Australia is facing what could be its worst public health emergency since the Spanish flu pandemic at the end of the First World War.

As a nation, we are a lot healthier than we were in 1919. But unless we contain the spread of the virus, this already bad situation could become much worse.

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy, on Friday advised the nation’s leaders to ban gatherings of more than 500 people. It is advice Prime Minister Scott Morrison accepted, locking crowds from the AFL, rugby league and concerts (but not schools and universities yet) from Monday.

"The goal here is very straightforward,” Mr Morrison said. “It is simply to slow the rate of transmission of the coronavirus within Australia."

9.17pm on Mar 13, 2020

Kremlin tells journalists who cover Putin to stay away if they're unwell

Moscow: In Russia, the Kremlin told journalists who cover President Vladimir Putin to stay away from official events if they felt unwell as a precautionary measure to protect Kremlin staff from the coronavirus.

Moscow says it has officially recorded 34 cases of coronavirus. It says nobody has died from the virus in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting in January.AP

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Putin's own medical care arrangements were of an extraordinary high level and that he was working at full capacity.

Peskov, when asked, declined to say whether Putin had taken a coronavirus test.

9.10pm on Mar 13, 2020

Australian cricketer cleared of coronavirus

By Tom Decent

Australian cricketer Kane Richardson has been cleared of coronavirus after pulling out of Friday’s one-day international against New Zealand.

Richardson remained at the team's hotel in Sydney after complaining of a sore throat but team officials have announced he is on his way to the SCG after returning a negative test.

Australia's Kane Richardson during the ICC Cricket World Cup Warm up match at The Hampshire Bowl, Southampton in 2019.Mark Kerton

“Kane Richardson’s test has come back negative and he is on his way to the ground,” a Cricket Australia statement read.

Australia made 7-258 batting first in an empty SCG. David Warner top scored with 67. New Zealand are 5-100 in reply after 26 overs.

Read the full story here.

9.03pm on Mar 13, 2020

Telstra tells 20,000 staff to work from home

By Zoe Samios

Telecommunications giant Telstra has ordered all Australian staff to work from home from Monday as the coronavirus crisis continues to intensify, a move that will affect nearly 20,000 workers across the country.

Telstra's Australian-based staff will be required to work remotely until the end of March, with the telco also scrapping all events and meetings of more than 25 people effective immediately.

Telstra has asked most of its Australian staff to work from home.Carla Gottgens, Bloomberg

Cancellations of all domestic travel were also put in place from today.

Telstra's decision is expected to affectclose to 20,000 employees, which is about 70 per cent of its total workforce.

Read the full story here.

8.56pm on Mar 13, 2020

Morrison will not attend tomorrow's NRL game

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will not attend the NRL game between the Cronulla Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs tomorrow night in Sydney, Eryk Bagshaw reports.

Earlier in the day, he said he would still be attending the season-opening game of his beloved Cronulla Sharks rugby league team. He said this despite the new ban on mass gatherings, which starts on Monday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison waves to the crowd during the Round 10 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Manly Sea Eagles in 2019.Craig Golding

Mr Morrison had said the advice from Monday was part of a stepped response. "We are not of great concern right now in terms of where those gatherings might be today, but in the weeks ahead, this will change," he said.

"The fact that I would still be going on Saturday speaks not just to my passion for my beloved Sharks, it might be the last game I get to go to for a long time. That's fine."

8.45pm on Mar 13, 2020

NZ Minister will self-isolate after meeting Dutton in the US

By Henry Cooke

New Zealand's Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin met with Australian politician Peter Dutton, who has now tested positive for coronavirus, in the US six days ago, stuff.co.nz has reported.

Ms Martin and Mr Dutton met at a Five Eyes meeting in the White House in Washington DC on March 7, according to a press release from Martin's office.

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The incubation period from coronavirus is between 1 and 14 days.

A spokesman for Ms Martin said she was self-isolating and would be getting tested for coronavirus on Saturday morning.

According to World Health Organisation advice the possibility of catching the virus with no symptoms are very low, particularly in the first few days of incubation.

8.38pm on Mar 13, 2020

Estonia closes schools while Bulgaria declares state of emergency

The Estonian government has decided to close schools and ban public gatherings until May 1 to limit the spread of the coronavirus, and said on Friday it was working on financial support to aid struggling companies in sectors such as tourism.

"Most certainly we are ready to increase public sector investment to prevent job cuts," Prime Minister Juri Ratas said on Friday.

Estonia has 41 cases of coronavirus so far, one of over 115 countries with infections. The government also said travellers from countries including Italy, China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and parts of France, German and Spain would be subject to a two-week isolation.

In Bulgaria, the parliament voted unanimously on Friday to declare a state of emergency until April 13 to contain the spread of coronavirus after the number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 23.

The state of emergency will allow for travel bans to and from countries with large coronavirus outbreaks, the closing of schools and universities, and permit police to intervene when imposed isolation of infected people is not observed.

The government also plans a revision of the 2020 state budget to allocate more funds to support the healthcare system, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told deputies.

Reuters

8.32pm on Mar 13, 2020

'Reconsider your need to travel': Advice for Indonesia updated

The Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for Indonesia, asking Australians to reconsider their need for travel while health risks “significantly and quickly” escalate.

“Indonesia has confirmed more COVID-19 cases. The risk of transmission is increasing. A foreign tourist with COVID-19 died in Bali on 11 March 2020,” its advice says on the Smartraveller website.

A security checks a passenger's body temperature at Tugu train station on March 12, 2020 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.Ulet Ifansasti

“There is limited availability of testing and infection control facilities. Critical care for Australians who become seriously ill, including in Bali, is likely to be significantly below the standards available in Australia.

“Medical evacuation to Australia may be not be possible and, if it is, very expensive. It may not be covered by travel insurance.

“Be prepared for growing travel delays and disruptions, including taking into account what this could mean for your health, and for your family, work or study responsibilities.

For more information, visit Smartraveller.