Australians returning from overseas will now be quarantined in hotels and other facilities for two weeks before returning to their homes.
Thirteen Australians have died from the virus, seven of them in New South Wales.
The crackdown on international travelers will come into effect on Saturday night and be enforced by the states and territories with support from the Australian Defence Force.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says passengers will be forced to self-isolate in hotels in the city in which they disembark after signing a legally-binding declaration.
So, by no later than midnight tomorrow - that is 11:59 pm Saturday - states and territories will be quarantining all arrivals through our airports in hotels and other accommodation facilities for the two weeks of their mandatory self-isolation before they are able to return to their home.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says keeping returning Australians in one location will also free up law enforcement officers to monitor those who should already be quarantined at home.
So if you are doing the wrong thing you will be caught. it's got to the point where if we are going to contain this, if we are going to keep as flat a trajectory as possible..it's a big thing to make someone go to a certain place and stay there for two weeks but it's life and death. There too much at stake to do otherwise.
Scott Morrison has also expressed pride in the efforts Australians have made to self-isolate and stay at home as much as possible.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy says Australians need to take social distancing seriously as cases continue to rise.
He says the main concern for health experts right now is community transmission and keeping large outbreaks from happening.
Despite being confident of current COVID-19 testing practices, he has called for Australians to take health advice seriously.
These social distancing measures are just so important, and that’s why they have to be for the long haul for several months. So we have to have sustainable measures that every single citizen complies with every minute of the day, working from home where possible, going out only for the necessities, not mingling with your friends in a shopping center or a park, practice social distancing, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, every minute of the day.
There have been calls for a ban on evictions for the time being, and tax cuts for landlords who reduce rent.
There are concerns that job losses could lead to evictions due to unpaid rent, making it more difficult to fight coronavirus
Federal Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says help has to be provided in such a difficult time.
This is a significant challenge as we go through this period. Businesses who've had massive reductions in their revenue are still having to cope with ongoing fixed costs. It's important for there to be pragmatic solutions to help all Australians through this next six months' period in the best possible way.
The Greens have called for an immediate halt to evictions and foreclosures as part of the relief package.
Leader Adam Bandt says the government has been paying too much attention to companies rather than people.
"Now it's vitally important that we do what we can to keep business going but everybody needs a roof over their heads. People are being asked to stay at home but to do that you need a home. We need to make sure that during this crisis there are no evictions, no foreclosures and that there are rental and mortgage holidays for people who really need it."
In New South Wales cases without a clear source of transmission are on the rise, pushing the state closer to a lockdown scenario.
The state branch of the Australian Medical Association has called for an immediate lockdown and assurance healthcare workers can access protective gear.
The number of confirmed cases on Friday in NSW rose by 186 to stand at 1405 with the source of infection for 145 of those cases unknown.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people to be vigilant and sensible, adding no one should leave their homes unless they have to.
Ms Berejiklian says community to community transmissions are worrying because authorities do not know where the virus is coming from.
"We are at a critical stage in the disease. The number of cases is increasing in New South Wales. But that one figure that we're most worried about it is the number of people who are getting with in the community- the community to community transmission is what we're concerned with. When you have cases that come in from overseas, you can monitor them, and you have a source. But when it's the community to community transmission and you don't have a source, that means the virus is starting to spread in the community without a source. And that is a concern."
Police around the country are receiving reports of people not complying with self-quarantine, self-isolation, and social distancing regulations.
New South Wales police say they have received six hundred reports in the last two days.
Whilst South Australian police say they have also received a large number of reports of both people and businesses not complying with restrictions.
South Australian police have established a process with the South Australian health department to triage calls to determine the most appropriate response, which may include police attendance.
New South Wales police have been handing out fines of one thousand and five thousand dollars for those caught in breach.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says people need to listen to authorities.
We issued a $1,000 dollar fine to a 65-year-old lady from Lake Macquarie. And what's disappointing...this lady had a caution on Monday, a caution to self-isolate. Yesterday, she was found walking around the streets. $1,000 fine. The police will continue to turn up, continue to protect you. But you need to listen to the messaging.
Supermarket chain Woolworths will hire up to twenty thousand extra workers to fill roles in its supermarkets, supply chain, drinks businesses, and also in e-commerce.
Coles has told shoppers to pack their own groceries to limit the spread of coronavirus and has also implemented other rules to keepers shoppers and staff safe.
Australians must stay at least 1.5 metres away from other people. Indoors, there must be a density of no more than one person per four square metres of floor space.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor, don’t visit, or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000
