Even more strict rules for coronavirus were announced last night, as the nation is hit harder and harder by the coronavirus outbreak.
We'll bring you the latest developments here in this live blog (lower in this article) through the day, including how these latest changes will affect Canberra.
The government has tightened the shutdown further, closing food courts, open homes and beauty salons other than hairdressers from midnight.
Weddings and funerals have been drastically curtailed. Weddings are only allowed with a couple, a celebrant and witnesses, no more than five people. Funerals are restricted to 10 people, with weddings and funerals both required to adhere to the rule of one person for each four square metres of space.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said authorities were "very worried about the rate of rise of the number of coronavirus cases in Australia, particularly over the last few days".
"It is a very, very steep growth and it is very concerning," he said.
Australia now has 2252 cases, with an eighth person dying on Tuesday - a woman from the Ruby Princess cruise ship. Numbers have almost doubled in two days.
READ MORE:
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Less than 5 per cent of students attend first 'pupil free' day
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The big problem with 'flattening the curve'
- States are shutting their borders to stop coronavirus. Is that actually allowed?
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Stay home, wash your hands and save lives
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Coronavirus hits Australians in mid-life
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What to do now you're unemployed
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the ACT Health website or the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
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