While cruise ships were being ordered away, the foreign ministry said on Saturday that workers from Pacific countries who are employed as fruitpickers and farm workers would be allowed to extend their visas for another 12 months.
"This will enable them to support themselves and continue to make a critical contribution to Australia’s agriculture sector and food security," Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said in a statement, noting that many were trapped in Australia because of the country's ban on international travel.
Several Australian research bodies have joined the international hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment against the virus.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's top biosecurity research agency, said on Saturday it has received A$220 million ($132 million) from the government to update its facilities.
On Thursday, Australia's national science agency, which is operated by CSIRO, said it had commenced pre-clinical testing of two potential vaccines at its high-containment biosecurity facility near Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Monash University in Melbourne said a study it is leading has indicated that a widely available anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin, used for treating lice, can kill the coronavirus growing in cell culture within 48 hours. Trials, however, needed to be carried out in people and authorities warned people against self-medicating.
In neighbouring New Zealand, the number of confirmed cases rose on Saturday by 52 to 824, according to the health ministry data. New Zealand has reported one death so far from COVID-19.
($1 = 1.6681 Australian dollars)
