Coronavirus updates LIVE: Australia death toll rises as travel restrictions come into effect

As nappies began vanishing from supermarket shelves across Australia amid panic over the coronavirus, it occurred to Elana this was one area where she could really assist.

Elana runs workshops in Melbourne on a “lost art” - how to use cloth nappies.

Instead of holding workshops attended by 20 to 30 people, she has decided to run group Skype sessions to help bust some of the myths around reusable nappies.

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Premier Mark McGowan has announced a freeze on increases to household fees and charges and the fast-tracking of payroll tax relief to help cushion the WA economy from the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The stimulus package, worth $607 million, comes on top of a range of other measures that were designed to kickstart the state economy in 2019 before the onset of the coronavirus crisis, including $290 million for school and hospital maintenance.

WA public servants would also be entitled to COVID-19 sick leave.

The state government had already announced it was looking to freeze power and water charges in the upcoming state budget, but Mr McGowan said on Monday afternoon this would be extended to car registration payments, public transport fares and the emergency services levy.

These payments would frozen until the middle of 2021.

Telstra will give broadband customers unlimited data and pensioners unlimited home phone calls as part of its national response to the coronavirus outbreak.

From Thursday consumers and small businesses with ADSL, NBN or cable connections can receive unlimited data for no additional cost -- a move by the telecommunications giant to assist Australians who have been encouraged or forced to work or study at home. The offer will run until April 30.

Telstra’s plans also include an extra 2GB of data for post-paid customers to use within 30 days, while prepaid customers with an active recharge of more than $40 can get 10GB of additional data to use within a 28 to 30 day period.

The Better in Blak singer shared the news on her Instagram account on Monday afternoon.

The 25-year-old said she was being looked after by the Brisbane North Metro Public Health Unit, and had been told she would remain in hospital until Friday.

“All I can do is stress how important it is to be kind and compassionate to each other during this time & that we need to be looking out for & prioritising the most vulnerable people," she wrote.

The Sydney Writer's Festival, which was set to run from the 27th of April to the 3rd of May, is the latest major event in the city to be scrapped.

"Today we have made the inevitable but nonetheless devastating decision to cancel this year's Sydney Writer's Festival," a statement read.

"In light of current public health advice regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and non-essential public gatherings of over 500 people, it is impossible and inadvisable to proceed with the Festival."

Victoria Police have the power to arrest people who breach self-isolation directives after Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of emergency in an attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Victoria recorded 14 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, the state's biggest increase in a single day.

The emergency declaration gives authorities the power to enforce a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people, and to fine or even jail those flouting quarantine orders.

Police powers have been beefed up, after a request from the state’s chief health officer to enliven new rules that allow officers to arrest people who breach self-isolation directives. Police Minister Lisa Neville said the state was in "unprecedented times".

Fines of up to $20,000 could be imposed on anyone refusing to comply with the public health orders issued under the legislation, with Mr Andrews warning police could do spot checks on people in 14-day self-isolation after returning from overseas.

Queensland police officers will not be doing static roadside alcohol or drug testing "until further notice", in order to reduce the risk of novel coronavirus transmission.

In a statement on Monday evening, the Queensland Police Service said "static multi-vehicle" testing would be suspended, but alcohol and drug testing would continue through mobile patrols.

"The decision has been made to minimise health risks to QPS officers and the community," the statement said.

"Road safety continues to be a significant priority for the QPS. The QPS will continue to undertake random breath and drug testing through high visibility mobile patrols.

A student at the Orthodox Jewish school Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah in Melbourne has tested positive to coronavirus, the second case at the school.

The school has been closed since Wednesday after a teacher was found to have the virus, after flying in to Melbourne from Los Angeles.

In an update to the school community on Monday, principal Dr Shimon Waronker said three students with flu-like symptoms were tested last week and one has now returned a positive.