'This is life or death': Australians are told to 'dob each other in' if friends or family members break strict coronavirus quarantine rules
- Gladys Berejiklian has told Australians to dob in their friends and family
- She said if people are breaking strict quarantine rules to let public health know
- The NSW Premier said it is a matter of 'life or death' and people need to step up
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Australians have been urged to dob in friends and family if they are found breaking strict quarantine rules designed to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said police will have the power to enforce existing laws if people break self-isolation bans when returning from overseas.
'We really need people to step up and to follow instructions because there's no chance we're going to be able to monitor every single person who gets off a plane for the next two weeks,' she said.
'It's not going to be possible.
Gladys Berejiklian has warned Australians to dob in friends and family if they are found breaking strict quarantine rules in the hopes of stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Pictured: flight passengers arriving at Sydney airport with quarantine papers
'People should report these cases of people turning up to work when they shouldn't. If they're engaging in community and social life and they shouldn't, let us know.'
Ms Berejilkian urged people to be careful and not take chances with their own health and the health of others.
'Don't just think of yourself or your own family, but you could be unintentionally infecting and causing the death of so many other people,' she told reporters on Monday.
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'We do know older people in particular are very vulnerable to this disease.
'This is life and death.'
She warned that people need to brace themselves as the number of cases in NSW continues to rise.
'I want everyone to brace themselves. It's not a time to be complacent or reckless or think that it's not going to affect you,' Ms Berejiklian said.
Ms Berejilkian (pictured) urged people to be careful and not take chances with their own health and the health of others
The NSW Premier said police will have the power to enforce existing laws if people break self-isolation bans when returning from overseas
Australia's COVID-19 death toll rose to five on Sunday after a 90-year-old woman who was a resident of Sydney's Dorothy Henderson Lodge nursing home died after becoming infected with the virus.
She is the third resident of the nursing home who has died after becoming infected with COVID-19.
A 77-year-old woman who flew from Brisbane to Sydney on Friday also died after developing coronavirus symptoms on the plane and died the same day.
The number of coronavirus cases in NSW jumped by 22 over the 24 hours to 11am on Sunday, taking the total number of infected people in the state to 134.
The University of Sydney and the University of NSW confirmed separately on Sunday that a student from each of their institutions had been diagnosed with the virus.
NSW schools from Monday will adopt social distancing measures, including cancelling assemblies, excursions, and travel, as well as some events and conferences in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19.
All new jury trials in the NSW Supreme and District court will also be suspended indefinitely from Monday, but jury trials which have already begun will continue.
Several large events across the state including the Sydney Royal Easter Show had been cancelled also to try to slow the virus' spread.
People are seen dressing in personal protective equipment outside the international departures terminal at Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne
International arrivals could face hefty fines and even jail time if they ignore the compulsory 14-day quarantine after arriving in Australia.
The national cabinet, which includes Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state leaders, on Sunday agreed on strict new border restrictions forcing all arrivals to Australia to self-isolate for 14 days.
