NSW and Victoria to shut down non-essential services

By MiNDFOOD

Close up of a glass of wine and a beer in a bar
Close up of a glass of wine and a beer in a bar
NSW and Victoria are set to shut down all non-essential services in the states.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Sunday the state will move to shut down non-essential services over the next 48 hours.

Berejiklian released a statement saying she will inform the National Cabinet that NSW will proceed with a more comprehensive shutdown.

“Supermarkets, petrol stations, pharmacies, convenience stores, freight and logistics, and home delivery will be among the many services that will remain open,” she said.

“Schools will be open tomorrow, though I will have more to say on this issue in the morning.

“I will update NSW tomorrow morning about the impacts and our plans following the National Cabinet.”

Meanwhile, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also said he will proceed with shutting down all non-essential activity over 48 hours.

All Victorian schools will be shut from Tuesday with school holidays brought forward.

“I will inform National Cabinet tonight that Victoria will proceed over the next 48 hours to implement a shutdown of all non-essential activity across our state to combat the spread of coronavirus,” said Andrews in a statement.

“This is not something that we do lightly, but it’s clear that if we don’t take this step, more Victorians will contract coronavirus, our hospitals will be overwhelmed and more Victorians will die.

“Victorians will still be able to go to the supermarket, the bank, the pharmacy and other essential stores, like petrol stations and convenience stores. Freight, logisitics and home delivery are also considered essential and will remain open.”

It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for all non-essential domestic travel to be cancelled to prevent the further spread of coronavirus.

“After consulting with premiers and chief ministers overnight, we have decided that we are moving immediately to recommend against all non-essential travel in Australia,” said Morrison.

“All non-essential travel should be cancelled. Work-related and compassionate grounds, those types of arrangements, is essential but also essential supplies and other important arrangements needed to keep Australia running.”

The prime minister also announced a $66 billion stimulus package to keep businesses afloat and people in work.

It brings the total being injected into the economy by all arms of government to $189 billion.

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