ABC新闻:世卫组织宣布新冠疫情为"全球性流行病"

Around the world the coronavirus is continuing to affect global economies and test countries healthcare systems as the WHO declared a pandemic. In Germany, chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that sixty to seventy per cent of the population — or around 50 million people — will be affected by the virus if the country does not do more to stem its spread. The number of deaths in Italy has jumped thirty per cent in a day, with the total number of cases now more than 12-thousand. And there's speculation in the US that president Trump may declare a state of emergency later today.

Businesses will be eligible for cash payments of up to 25-thousand dollars, as part of a multi-billion dollar coronavirus stimulus package, designed to stop the economy from sliding into recession. The prime minister Scott Morrison and treasurer Josh Frydenberg will unveil the details of the plan today, which is understood to be worth more than 15-billion dollars. It will kick in immediately, with businesses able to access an expanded instant asset write-off from today. The ABC also understands there will be cash payments targetted at welfare recipients to keep the economy moving forward.
In Melbourne, police have fatally shot a man, while two others have died and a woman suffered critical injuries in the city's eastern suburbs overnight. The man was shot by police during an arrest in the early hours of this morning.