Screenshot from ABC News (Australia)

Australia will be undergoing a partial lockdown on gatherings by closing indoor venues, such as pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, sporting, and religious venues from midday today to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Restaurants and cafes will be restricted to just takeaway and delivery only while shopping centres will remain open and bottle shops will be allowed to continue operating.

Schools will still remain open until the end of term one, however, parents have a choice whether to let their kids attend class or stay home.

Here’s the direct media release straight from the Prime Minister’s Office as per ABC:

PM’s office releases statement

Australians should expect these measures to be in place for at least 6 months.

The following facilities will be restricted from opening from midday local time 23 March 2020:

Pubs, registered and licensed clubs (excluding bottle shops attached to these venues), hotels (excluding accommodation)
Gyms and indoor sporting venues
Cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and night clubs
Restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway and/or home delivery
Religious gatherings, places of worship or funerals (in enclosed spaces and other than very small groups and where the 1 person per 4 square metre rule applies).

Isolated remote community hubs are not included in these restrictions.

Other facilities are not impacted but will be considered under stage 2 restrictions, if necessary.

These measures also apply to outdoor spaces associated with the above venues.

Leaders noted that these enhanced measures build on existing measures to slow the virus and save lives:

No non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people outside or more than 100 people inside.
All non-essential indoor gatherings of less than 100 people must have no more than one person per 4sqm. All Australians should expect their local businesses to be following this rule.
Where possible, keep 1.5 metres between yourself and others
Avoid non essential travel
Restrictions on entering aged care homes to protect older Australians