Australian PM downplays coronavirus threat, says 'you can still go to cricket'

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that re is need for citizens to avoid public garings in country amid threat of coronavirus epidemic. While addressing a press conference on fear of coronavirus, Morrison said that re has t been any community transmission in Australia.

“re is need for us to be moving towards t having mass garings of people,” said Morrison in a statement.

“You can still go to football, you can still go to cricket, you can still go and play with your friends down street, you can go off to concert, and you can go out for a Chinese meal,” he added.

Liberal Party leader boasted that people take part in all such activities because Australia has “acted quickly” and got ahead of it in time. However, Morrison emphasised that government need to elevate response to stay ahead in next phase. He also expressed concern about ecomic implications of health crisis.

“I said or day, this is a health crisis, t a financial crisis. But it is a health crisis with very significant ecomic implications,” said Morrison.

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51-year-old Liberal leader reassured Australian citizens that 15 cases of coronavirus from Wuhan have w recovered and are back in community. or eight identified cases were from Diamond Princess cruise which was quarantined off Japanese coast for weeks.

Morrison also emphasised that though World Health Organisation (WHO) is yet to declare nature of vel coronavirus, risk of a global pandemic lies upon government. “And as a result, as a government, we need to take steps necessary to prepare for such a pandemic,” said Australian Prime Minister.

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'Decline in rate'

World Health Organisations (WHO) Director-General briefed countries on February 26 on threat of coronavirus epidemic and urged m to prioritise protection of health workers who are worst-hit due to exposure to deadly virus. WHO-China joint mission found that epidemic peaked and plateaued between January 23 and February 2, and has been declining steadily since n.

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