From Saturday, enforced quarantine was introduced all over Australia. This will be particularly for citizens who are coming back home from overseas. The armed forces made sure that all the citizens abide by the law. The self isolation measures are been taken rather seriously as the cases of corona virus have increased all over the world drastically.
Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister has made it clear that the Australians returning have been the reason of around two thirds of the country’s 4,000 coronavirus cases. This is rightfully, the biggest issue the country is facing. The countrymen will need to fight against the pandemic using the self isolation measures.
The rate of infections of Coronavirus in Australia is slow compared to other countries with only 18 people killed by the virus nationally till now but the PM said that the numbers have gone up recently and this cannot be taken lightly. The most populated states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria have been majorly hit. People are frustrated as they have been getting contradictory guidance from the federal government, state legislators and health officials over the necessary level of social distancing.
During the television briefing Morrison said that with time, the risk of people who are returning to their home country from various parts of the world have high chances of being donors or patients of the virus. So now, the laws have to be tightened and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will be sent to check on recent returnees and their self isolation measures. This is a rare step for the country as the military is not seen often on the streets.
Australia has already closed its borders for tourists and non citizens. The returning citizens will be detained in a hotel for 2 weeks over their home self isolation as that method isn’t trustworthy in these testing times.