COVID-19

A growing number of hospitality venues are either closing or revising their operations, after the Prime Minister announced the ban of all non-essential gatherings of 100 plus people. The ban is effective immediately and will impact religious services.

Australia’s economy will contract 2 per cent in the March quarter, according to ANZ, as economists weigh up the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia has upgraded its international travel advice to the highest level, with all citizens being told not to travel overseas because of coronavirus. It comes as Virgin Australia suspended all international travel for more than two months.

The Australian Hotels Association WA has made a number of recommendations for the state’s hospitality sector to reduce the spreading of COVID-19, with Crown Resorts in Perth extending its social distancing measures to Perth.

Mark McGowan is resisting calls to close interstate borders as he confirmed three more coronavirus cases.

This year’s Margaret River Pro surfing competition has been cancelled, while Cricket Australia has suspended the remaining Sheffield Shield series and the AFL is due to make a decision tomorrow on whether Round 1 will proceed this week.

Qantas will slash international flights by 90 per cent until the end of May in a fresh round of coronavirus-related cuts equivalent to grounding 150 aircraft.

Concerns over COVID-19 have led to the cancellation or postponement of more events in the state, including Australia’s largest annual mining conference Diggers & Dealers, along with the Anzac Day services. The virus has also led to more businesses changing their working arrangements.

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A freeze on household bills, a slight rise of the payroll tax threshold and small businesses grants will form part of a $607 million state government stimulus package, while the Commonwealth and the Reserve Bank are considering further steps.

Chinese consul general Dong Zhihua is confident international trade won’t suffer long-term disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, and is pitching for local businesses to come to a trade fair in November.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has pumped extra liquidity into the banking system, part of a package of measures aimed at ensuring business and households have access to credit as the coronavirus causes chaos in global financial markets.

Western Australian schools will introduce new precautionary measures, including cancelling assemblies and staggering recess and lunch breaks, to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Infrastructure group Downer EDI's possible sale of its mining business to Perenti Global has been suspended due to the market volatility caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Fans will be unable to attend the NBL grand final series, including tonight’s match between the Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings, or AFL games after both sporting codes responded to Prime Minister Scott Morrison's announcement that mass gatherings of 500 plus people should not proceed.

The federal government will be advising against mass gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today, in response to the growing coronavirus threat.

As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic worsen, businesses are making sure they are prepared for disruption, with many trialing work from home arrangements.

The Australian Grand Prix has been cancelled as the prime minister faces calls to cancel mass gatherings to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Virgin Australia has cut more flights, reduced executives' fees, and will seek relief from government charges as it joins rivals in attempting to soften the impact of the COVID-19 spread.

The travel industry is reeling from a decision by the US government to ban all travel from Europe for a month, while the Australian government has decided against a similar move after consideration. Shares in ASX-listed travel companies were smashed today in response to the clamp down and as travel dries up globally.

Concerns over coronavirus have led to the cancellation of several sporting, cultural and business events but most organisations are planning to proceed with scheduled activities.

The Australian share market has suffered yet another day of carnage, plunging again after US President Donald Trump suspended travel from Europe for a month to limit the coronavirus pandemic.

OPINION: Clear, sensible thinking and strategising are essential, both on a personal level and in business, when responding to threats posed by the coronavirus.

The state government has urged Western Australian tourism operators to bring forward deals and promotions in support of the local industry, as it launches a ‘Do it in WA’ campaign that will use existing funding.

Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley has unveiled a range of measures to support Western Australia’s rock lobster industry as a result of the worsening COVID-19 outbreak, including an extended fishing season and measures to increase local sales opportunities.

Growing concerns over the novel coronavirus have led this week to the cancellation of multiple business and sporting events, with the largest being HBF's Run for a Reason and the annual Steadfast Convention, which would have brought more than 2,000 insurance industry delegates to Perth later this month.

The federal government will announce a stimulus package of up to $20 billion tomorrow to fight the impact of the Covid-19 virus, it has been reported this afternoon, while $2.4 billion of new health funding was announced today.

Gold slid over 1.5 per cent on Tuesday, backing off the $US1,700 ceiling hit in the previous session, as expectations of global policy measures to alleviate the economic impact from the coronavirus eased some investors' concerns and lifted share markets.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told business leaders today that its stimulus package to address the impact of coronavirus would be proportionate, targeted, scalable and temporary.

Qantas has slashed the capacity of its international flights by almost a quarter for the next six months due to the coronavirus impact. The airline also announced cost saving measures, including cuts in salaries for its top executives.

A Perth Glory soccer game planned for next Wednesday has been postponed, while the state government has announced it would open three clinics at metropolitan hospitals tomorrow to test for coronavirus, as the epidemic escalates with WA’s sixth case confirmed today.

The Australian stock market has suffered its worst single day loss in nearly a dozen years, as a brewing price war over oil added to the global tumult.