“Easter in Australia will be different this year, as it will be all around the world,” Scott Morrison is heard saying in the beginning of his video address, setting the tone for a different Easter message.
While immediate family members will still be able to meet, the Prime Minister made sure to emphasise that extended family gatherings are not an option this year, as neither going to church is.
Reiterated throughout the minute-long video clip is the ‘stay at home’ instruction, as part of the current coronavirus-related restrictions within the efforts of ‘flattening the curve’.
“For Christians, not being able to gather does not diminish the hope that we have through this important Easter period.
This year, we will live out our faith by doing the right thing,” Mr. Morrison says.
“That means staying at home, making sure we're checking on our neighbours and supporting our communities and families, our friends.”
Continuing to practice social distancing during this holiday period is promoted as of outmost importance, with the PM saying “we cannot undo the tremendous progress we have made together in recent times.”
“The most important weekend”
The same comments were made in a press conference earlier this week, with Mr. Morrison warning Australians that not staying at home this long weekend could risk undo achievements on the virus spread control and potentially make things seriously worse.
On Thursday, it was revealed that fewer than 100 news COVID-19 cases were recorded in 24 hours, for the first time in three weeks.
But Federal Health minister Greg Hunt was quick to warn against complacency.
“As we go into Easter with welcome news for Australia, the virus does not take a holiday, therefore none of us can relax what we do.
"This, in many ways, is the most important weekend we may face in the whole course of the virus,” he said.
States and territories will be strictly enforcing self-isolation and social distancing measures especially in holiday destinations, deploying among others police patrols, plate scanning technology and even helicopters.
