|
|
|
|
31 December 2019
|
Department of Health first notified of undiagnosed pneumonia in China.
|
|
14 January 2020
|
World Health Organisation confirmed the potential for human-to-human transmission of COVID-19.
|
|
20 January 2020
|
National Incident Room activated to coordinate the health sector emergency response.
|
|
21 January 2020
|
Human coronavirus with pandemic potential was declared as a listed human disease under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
|
|
23 January 2020
|
Enhanced border measures commenced at international ports.
|
|
25 January 2020
|
First case of COVID-19 in Australia confirmed.
|
|
30 January 2020
|
Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) commenced daily meetings.
|
|
1 February 2020
|
Travel restrictions imposed on foreign nationals arriving from mainland China.
|
|
18 February 2020
|
Government released the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus.
|
|
25 February 2020
|
Applications opened for grant funding to support COVID-19 vaccine development.
|
|
1 March 2020
|
Travel restrictions expanded to foreign nationals arriving from other countries.
|
|
5 March 2020
|
National Coordination Mechanism established.
|
|
11 March 2020
|
$2.4 billion health package announced.
|
|
12 March 2020
|
$17.6 billion economic stimulus package announced.
|
|
13 March 2020
|
Council of Australian Governments agreed to establish National Cabinet; National Cabinet endorses restrictions on gatherings of over 500 people.
|
|
15 March 2020
|
Quarantine imposed for all international arrivals; social distancing measures commenced and restrictions placed on large gatherings; and cruise ship arrivals from foreign ports temporarily banned.
|
|
17 March 2020
|
Australians overseas advised to return to Australia.
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Travel advice for all overseas travel raised to 'do not travel'.
|
|
18 March 2020
|
Human biosecurity emergency declared under Biosecurity Act 2015.
|
|
19 March 2020
|
Pratique granted for passengers to disembark the Ruby Princess in Sydney.
|
|
20 March 2020
|
Australia's borders closed to all non-citizens and non-residents.
|
|
22 March 2020
|
$66 billion economic support package for households and businesses announced.
|
|
22 March 2020
|
National Cabinet agreed to implement stage 1 restrictions on social gatherings, including at restaurants, cafes, sporting venues, cinemas, and places of worship; Government recommended against all non-essential travel within Australia.
|
|
24 March 2020
|
Ban on Australians travelling overseas instated.
|
|
25 March 2020
|
National COVID-19 Coordination Commission announced; non-urgent elective surgery suspended.
|
|
27 March 2020
|
National Cabinet agreed to mandatory 14-day self-isolation in hotel facilities for international arrivals.
|
|
29 March 2020
|
National Cabinet agreed to moratorium on evictions for commercial and residential tenancies in financial distress; agreed to further public health restrictions.
|
|
30 March 2020
|
$130 billion economic package (including JobKeeper) announced.
|
|
2 April 2020
|
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package announced.
|
|
11 April 2020
|
Outbreak in Newmarch House (aged care facility) in New South Wales began.
|
|
26 April 2020
|
COVIDSafe app launched.
|
|
1 May 2020
|
Government announced residential aged care sector support package.
|
|
4 May 2020
|
Government announced $352m in support of global COVID-19 efforts, including $15m to develop vaccines and diagnostics.
|
|
8 May 2020
|
Three-stage plan to begin easing lockdown restrictions announced.
|
|
22 May 2020
|
Treasury revealed that only half of the estimated 6.5 million Australians would access Jobkeeper.
|
|
26 May 2020
|
$250 million JobMaker plan announced.
|
|
12 June 2020
|
National Cabinet agreed to reduce some public health restrictions.
|
|
20 June 2020
|
Public health restrictions reinstated in Victoria.
|
|
9 July 2020
|
First case reported in the COVID-19 outbreak at St Basil's Home for the Aged Care.
|
|
10 July 2020
|
National Cabinet agreed to a national review of hotel quarantine arrangements; agreed to implement further caps on international arrivals.
|
|
12 July 2020
|
Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package ended.
|
|
16 July 2020
|
JobTrainer Skills Package announced.
|
|
17 July 2020
|
$400 million incentive to boost jobs for screen industry announced.
|
|
20 July 2020
|
Outbreak at the Heritage Care Epping Gardens residential aged care facility commenced.
|
|
21 July 2020
|
Prime Minister announced the extension of JobKeeper, at a reduced rate.
|
|
19 August 2020
|
Prime Minister announced a supply arrangement with AstraZeneca for access to its COVID-19 vaccine.
|
|
21 August 2020
|
National Cabinet agreed to resume the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Islander Labour Scheme to alleviate workforce shortages.
|
|
4 September 2020
|
National Cabinet agreed that the Commonwealth would work collaboratively with state and territory governments to develop a plan to 'reopen' Australia by Christmas.
|
|
18 September 2020
|
Government committed to having Australians stranded overseas home by Christmas 2020.
|
|
23 October 2020
|
The Commonwealth and all states and territories (except Western Australia) agreed in principle to adopt the Framework for National Reopening by Christmas 2020.
|
|
5 November 2020
|
Government announced vaccine deals with Novavax and Pfizer.
|
|
9 November 2020
|
CSL commenced manufacture of the AstraZeneca vaccine in its Melbourne facility.
|
|
26 November 2020
|
Nearly 37 000 Australians reported to be still stranded overseas.
|
|
11 December 2020
|
University of Queensland vaccine trial discontinued.
|
|
7 January 2021
|
Prime Minister announced Australia's COVID-19 vaccine national roll-out strategy would commence late February 2021, with a target of 4 million doses by the end of March 2021, including aged care residents and disability care residents.
|
|
25 January 2021
|
TGA granted provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine.
|
|
15 February 2021
|
First batch of the Pfizer vaccine (142 000 doses) arrived in Australia; TGA grants provisional approval for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
|
|
21 February 2021
|
First person in Australia received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
|
|
22 February 2021
|
Phase 1a of the vaccination rollout commenced.
|
|
27 February 2021
|
32 000 vaccine doses (of the government's 60 000 target) administered.
|
|
3 March 2021
|
Approximately 15 000 people vaccinated in NSW, including two thirds of frontline hotel quarantine workers.
|
|
4 March 2021
|
First dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine administered in Australia.
|
|
5 March 2021
|
Export of 250 000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia is blocked by the European Commission.
|
|
9 March 2021
|
Government released COVID-19 Vaccination Program Implementation Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
|
|
11 March 2021
|
Announcement of a $1.2 billion support package for the tourism and aviation sector as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan.
|
|
15 March 2021
|
Reports that some European countries, including Germany, Italy and France, pausing their rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine following concerns of serious side effects.
|
|
17 March 2021
|
Delivery of the vaccine to general practices commenced; The government announced arrangements to provide vaccine doses and medical assistance to Papua New Guinea.
|
|
21 March 2021
|
TGA approved the manufacture of the AstraZeneca vaccine by CSL in Australia.
|
|
22 March 2021
|
Vaccination phase 1b commenced.
|
|
23 March 2021
|
Locally made AstraZeneca vaccine became available for use in Australia.
|
|
24 March 2021
|
CSL released its first batch of the locally made AstraZeneca vaccine.
|
|
31 March 2021
|
Phase 1a of the vaccine rollout reached only 600 000 of the planned 4 million.
|
|
1 April 2021
|
First reported case in Australia of person developing a clotting disorder following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
|
|
8 April 2021
|
The government accepted ATAGI advice regarding preference for the Pfizer vaccine for adults under the age of 50; AstraZeneca recommended for those over the age of 50.
|
|
9 April 2021
|
The Australian Government announced it had secured 20 million additional doses of Pfizer vaccine.
|
|
13 April 2021
|
Second reported case in Australia of person developing a clotting disorder following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
|
|
14 April 2021
|
Prime Minister requested National Cabinet meet twice per week to 'tackle head-on' challenges in the vaccine rollout; Prime Minister suggested that 'mass vaccination options', done in partnership with the states and territories, will become a part of Australia's vaccines strategy.
|
|
16 April 2021
|
TGA announced third reported case of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia linked to AstraZeneca vaccine resulting in the death of a 48-year-old person.
|
|
20 April 2021
|
Department of Health acknowledged that only around 6.5 per cent of disability facilities reached in vaccine rollout.
|
|
22 April 2021
|
National Cabinet agreed to recalibrate the delivery model for the vaccination rollout in light of ATAGI advice on AstraZeneca.
|
|
27 April 2021
|
Government announced a 'temporary pause' on direct flights between Australia and India; requires all future passengers to a return a negative PCR test and a rapid antigen test.
|
|
30 April 2021
|
National Cabinet noted the significant increase in cases in India; government announced a two-week travel ban for Australians returning from India; imposes fines and prison sentences for breaches.
|
|
2 May 2021
|
Commencement of vaccinations for Australians aged between 50 to 70, with the AstraZeneca vaccine, at Commonwealth respiratory clinics and state mass vaccination centres.
|
|
5 May 2021
|
Phase 2a of the rollout commenced.
|
|
7 May 2021
|
National Cabinet announced facilitated commercial flights from India to Australia will recommence on 15 May 2021; nearly 10 000 Australians reported to be stranded in India, including 173 unaccompanied minors.
|
|
13 May 2021
|
Moderna announced it has reached an agreement with government for the supply of 25 million doses of its vaccines.
|
|
17 May 2021
|
NSW began vaccinating people aged 40 to 49 with the Pfizer vaccine; commencement of vaccination of Australians aged over 50 at GP clinics.
|
|
24 May 2021
|
Weekly average doses of vaccine exceeded 500 000 for the first time.
|
|
26 May 2021
|
Victoria announced a state-wide lockdown.
|
|
3 June 2021
|
Government announced temporary COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
|
|
7 June 2021
|
First COVID-19 vaccinations in pharmacies commenced.
|
|
8 June 2021
|
Vaccine eligibility expanded.
|
|
10 June 2021
|
Emergency measures under the Biosecurity Act 2015 are extended.
|
|
11 June 2021
|
Prime Minister announced that 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be donated to Pacific and SE Asia region countries.
|
|
17 June 2021
|
ATAGI recommended that the Pfizer vaccine is the preferred vaccine for those aged 16 to under 60.
|
|
23 June 2021
|
Local government areas NSW declared a COVID-19 hotspots.
|
|
24 June 2021
|
TGA granted provisional determination for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
|
|
25 June 2021
|
Greater Sydney and parts of NSW entered lockdown.
|
|
9 July 2021
|
Prime Minister announced the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID-19 Response; inbound passenger arrival caps to be reduced by 50 per cent by 14 July 2021 due to the Delta.
|
|
9 July 2021
|
National Cabinet signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on Data Sharing.
|
|
13 July 2021
|
ATAGI shortened recommended interval between first and second dose of AstraZeneca to 4–8 weeks.
|
|
15 July 2021
|
Greater Melbourne and parts of Victoria declared COVID-19 hotspots; Victoria announces 5-day lockdown for parts of state.
|
|
20 July 2021
|
Victorian lockdown extended by a further seven days; Metropolitan Adelaide declared as a COVID-19 hotspot for a period of seven days.
|
|
22 July 2021
|
TGA granted provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine for adolescents aged 12 years and over.
|
|
6 August 2021
|
National Cabinet noted that PCR testing would continue to be the priority testing method; agreed to further work on RATs.
|
|
9 August 2021
|
TGA granted provisional approval for the Moderna (mRNA) vaccine; Australia supplied 500 000 vaccine doses to Timor-Leste and Fiji.
|
|
15 August 2021
|
Government announced a test of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) in residential aged care facilities in Sydney.
|
|
2 September 2021
|
Emergency measures under the Biosecurity Act 2015 extended.
|
|
6 September 2021
|
Four million doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in Australia from the UK following a vaccine swap deal.
|
|
12 September 2021
|
Government announced supply of an additional one million doses of the Moderna vaccine from EU member states; an additional $50 million announced to support vaccine communications campaign.
|
|
13 September 2021
|
Bookings begin for 12 to 15-years-olds to receive a vaccine.
|
|
17 September 2021
|
National Cabinet received an update on Doherty Institute modelling of additional outbreak scenarios.
|
|
24 September 2021
|
Government committed to providing 60 million vaccine doses to Indo-Pacific countries by the end of 2022 (3.2 million doses already provided)
|
|
25 September 2021
|
Two thirds of Australians over the age of 16-years (75.8%) had received at least one vaccine dose and over half (51.5%) were fully vaccinated.
|
|
27 September 2021
|
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Royal Commission) publishes a draft committee report describing vaccine rollout as 'seriously deficient'; TGA announces regulatory changes allowing approved companies to supply RATs from 1 November 2021.
|
|
29 September 2021
|
Government announced winding down of COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
|
|
13 October 2021
|
Treasury revealed that JobMaker had reached just 1 per cent of the 450 000 jobs it was targeting.
|
|
14 October 2021
|
The Department of Health provided evidence to committee that vaccination rates for First Nations Australians began falling behind the general population from April 2021.
|
|
28 October 2021
|
Government announced boosters for those who received two doses at least six months prior.
|
|
8 November 2021
|
Booster program commenced for immunocompromised Australians and high priority groups.
|
|
18 November 2021
|
Biosecurity measures extended in the Northern Territory.
|
|
24 November 2021
|
WHO notified of the Omicron variant and, two days later, designated it a variant of concern.
|
|
27 November 2021
|
Australia introduced biosecurity measures for people arriving from parts of Africa.
|
|
28 November 2021
|
First cases of the Omicron variant confirmed in Australia.
|
|
29 November 2021
|
Government announced a pause to the planned 1 December 2021 reopening of Australia's international borders to 15 December 2021.
|
|
30 November 2021
|
WHO declared the Omicron strain to be a variant of concern; six cases detected in Australia.
|
|
3 December 2021
|
Government announced an additional $540 million in funding to support COVID-19 response measures and COVID-19 medical research.
|
|
5 December 2021
|
TGA provisionally approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in children aged 5 to 11.
|
|
8 December 2021
|
TGA provisionally approved the Moderna vaccine (Spikevax) for use as a booster vaccine.
|
|
10 December 2021
|
Government extended human biosecurity measures for a further two months; Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment eligibility rules change.
|
|
14 December 2021
|
Government announced a deal with Moderna to manufacture mRNA vaccines in Australia.
|
|
30 December 2021
|
National cabinet agreed to advice to reset test, trace, isolate and quarantine arrangements in light of Omicron; set a new definition for close contacts.
|
|
5 January 2022
|
Up to ten RATs over three months to be made available to concession card holders.
|
|
13 January 2022
|
National Cabinet reaffirmed the National Plan to Transition Australia's National COVID-19 Response; agreed the National Framework for Managing COVID-19 in Schools and Early Childhood Education and Care.
|
|
1 February 2022
|
Government announced $210 million in funding to support aged care workforce, including bonus payments to aged care workers; Australian Competition and Consumer Commission published RAT pricing, suggesting price mark ups 'difficult to justify'.
|
|
7 February 2022
|
Government announced up to 1700 Australian Defence Force personal to be deployed to the aged care sector.
|
|
21 February 2022
|
International borders reopened to fully vaccinated visa holders.
|
|
11 March 2022
|
Over $2 billion announced to protect Australians against COVID-19 and influenza in winter, targeting aged care and disability sectors, vulnerable populations, and vaccines; National Cabinet decided to seek health advice to support ending quarantine for close contacts.
|
|
15 March 2022
|
Government announced end of ban on international cruise ships on 17 April 2022.
|
|
|
Health experts warned of risks associated with easing public health restrictions, rising national case numbers, and the spread of the BA.2 Omicron subvariant.
|
|
24 March 2022
|
Government announced an agreement with Moderna for the production of mRNA vaccines in Australia.
|
|
25 March 2022
|
Government announced that COVID-19 emergency measures made under the Biosecurity Act 2015 will end on 17 April 2022.
|
|
25 March 2022
|
ATAGI recommended a fourth vaccine dose for people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 from four months after their initial booster dose.
|