NSW and Victoria to close 'non-essential services' while South and Western Australia seal borders in response to Coronavirus pandemic

A range of unprecedented measures have been introduced by state governments in a bid to halt outbreaks of Coronavirus.

With Tasmania and the Northern Territory have already closed their borders, authorities in Western Australia and South Australia have announced tough new measures that will see both states close their borders to slow the spread of Coronavirus.

Interstate arrivals will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, and the border controls will apply to all road, air, rail and sea access points.

Announcing the measures, Western Australian Premier, Mark McGowan stated "these are extreme steps, but these are extreme days ... we all need to step up and play our part in one of the greatest crises facing our state in its history."

One measure being considered in Western Australia is turning popular tourist destination Rottnest Island, a former penal settlement, into a quarantine zone.

Commenting on this, Premier McGowan advised that Rottnest Island's use would be "to make sure that people who cannot or will not quarantine (can be) put somewhere where they can get proper attention and support in which they are properly isolated."

In NSW, Premiere Gladys Berejiklian announced that all "non-essential services" would be closed within 48 hours.

After some initial confusion over what this applied to, it has been confirmed that this will apply to gyms, aquatic and recreation centres, indoor sports venues, theatres, cafes, pubs, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews followed suit, announcing that all "non-essential" services will be forced to close their doors within 48 hours.

Services that will remain open include supermarkets, banks, petrol stations, pharmacies, convenience stores, freight and logistics services, along with home delivery.

However, in Victoria, Premier Andrews also included retail stores in his list of businesses that would be affected by the lockdown.

For the moment, schools also remain open.

Indicating that further moves may follow, Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that the Federal Government "may have to take far more draconian measures” adding, “inevitably, and I suspect soon, there will be a need for particular locations (to have) more extreme measures taken."

Image shows the National Cabinet, consisting on the Prime Minister and state Premiers, meeting by teleconference today.

NSW and Victoria to close 'non-essential services' while South Australia and Western Australia seal borders in response to Coronavirus pandemic