Aus PM details new $1.1 billion healthcare package

The funding includes financial help for mental health support, domestic violence initiatives and emergency relief support. Two more Australians infected with COVID-19 died, bringing the country's death toll to 16.

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a new 1.1 billion dollar (680 million US dollar) healthcare package on Sunday.

The funding includes financial help for mental health support, domestic violence initiatives and emergency relief support.

Morrison also reported that the rate of new coronavirus cases had dropped from 'around 25 to 30 per cent a day' to 'about 13 to 15 per cent'.

Two more Australians infected with COVID-19 died, bringing the country's death toll to 16 on Sunday according to local media reports.

A 75-year-old woman who had been a passenger onboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship died in Queensland, and a man in his 80s died in a Melbourne hospital.

In Sydney, local media report that the first busloads of international airport arrivals have been taken to quarantine hotels across Sydney under new coronavirus rules that came into effect on Sunday morning.

From now on, all Australians returning home from overseas will be put into compulsory quarantine in hotels for two weeks.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

(With inputs from AP)