NSW Braces for ‘Comprehensive Shutdown’

AAP
By AAP
March 22, 2020COVID-19
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NSW Braces for ‘Comprehensive Shutdown’
New South Wales' Premier Gladys Berejiklian in western Sydney on June 25, 2017. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

NSW will shut down non-essential services over the next two days as the number of COVID-19 cases reaches 533 with an announcement on schools expected on Monday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says supermarkets, petrol stations and pharmacies are among the businesses that will stay open.

Schools will remain open on Monday, although the premier is planning to make further announcements on education.

“Tonight I will be informing the National Cabinet that NSW will proceed to a more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential services,” Ms Berejiklian said on Sunday in a statement.

“This will take place over the next 48 hours.”

The announcement was made as NSW Health on Sunday confirmed 97 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the state’s tally to 533. Of those 533 cases, 46 have been contracted locally without an identified source of infection.

Victoria is also expected to take similar action to NSW if the national cabinet, which includes Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders, doesn’t agree at its meeting on Sunday evening.

Morrison had to date resisted closing schools based on the medical advice at the time.

By Steven Trask

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