Australian PM Morrison announces disaster payment for pandemic

Australia will introduce a pandemic leave payment for workers who have run out of sick leave but need to be quarantined because they have been directed to stay at home due to the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday.

AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, SCOTT MORRISON said "That means those who need to self-isolate as a result of an instruction by a public health officer - there is no economic reason for you to go to work. We are also encouraging the Victorian government to ensure that there are appropriate penalties in place for those who do break those public health notices and they're told to self-isolate and do go to work. They're putting their workmates at risk, they're putting their employer's business at risk, they're putting their broader health at risk."

 The payment will be a A$1,500 for a two-week pandemic leave period. The state of Victoria declared a "state of emergency" on Sunday due to a surge in community transmissions.