Coronavirus disease ‘COVID-19’ is a type of coronavirus that caused a global outbreak. The disease causes respiratory illness and symptoms include pneumonia and bronchitis. It can be caught from viral particles and be detected through cough, difficulties to breath and fever. These symptoms can appear as far as 14 days after exposure.
It was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, China on 31 December 2019. Further investigations led WHO to declare a global health emergency on 30th of January 2020. Prime Minister Scott Morrison activated an emergency response plan on 27th February as it entered a pandemic phase. On 12 March 2020 WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
The outbreak has impacted significant aspects of everyday lives including travel, work, entertainment such as sporting events, concerts and festivals cancelled, education and school closures, economy, financial markets and fears of a recession.
See the site navigation above for important health and safety information to keep you and your family safe. Check this page for latest news updates and breaking headlines on the coronavirus ‘COVID-19’. A historical timeline of events can be viewed on the WHO website.