The Prime Minister also stressed that Australian’s should “stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary you go out”, suggesting that outings should be limited to “basics” such as attendance at work, exercise outdoors with a partner or small group, or attending shops to buy food or medicine.
Restrictions to funerals and weddings were also put into place, with funerals able to have a maximum of 10 attendees and weddings a limit of just the couple, a celebrant and witnesses.
Hairdressers and barbers will be allowed for appointments of 30 minutes or less and boot camps can operate outdoors with 10 or fewer people.
Barbeques and birthday gatherings have been banned and measures are being put in place to crack down on house parties.
It was also confirmed today that non-elective surgeries in both private and public hospitals will be banned from midnight tonight in a bid to preserve the healthcare system.
Morrison said the surgery cancellations were based on the advice of the expert medical panel.
"[It will] allow the preservation of resources, including personal protective equipment, and allow health services to prepare for their role in the COVID-19 outbreak," he said.
The only elective surgeries to continue are those in category one and urgent category two cases.
Category one surgeries are for life-threatening conditions and include urgent procedures such as limb amputations and heart surgery.
Category two can include surgeries such as a colonoscopy or amputation of a digit.
