COVID-19 Australia: A look back at March 2020

One year on from the WHO declaring the coronavirus a pandemic, the world looks completely different than it did at this time in 2020.

International travel appears to be off the cards until at least the end of the year, but signs of life returning to normal are appearing more every day, with authorities cautiously optimistic about the country's ability to bounce back.

But at this time last year, the country was just beginning to shut down as new details of the virus emerged, and case numbers began to soar.

We take a look at some key dates from back in March 2020, when Australia – and the world – had only just started to navigate its way through one of the deadliest and most financially crippling pandemics in history.

Sunday 1st

Australia's first COVID-19 related death

James Kwan was the first person in Australia to die after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The 78-year-old man, from Perth, was a passenger on board the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that was forced to quarantine in the Japanese port of Yokohama.

Saturday 7th

Global cases hit 100,000

At the time, just 3,400 people had died from the virus.

Wednesday 11th

WHO declares global pandemic

At the time, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside of China had increased 13-fold and increasing cases in Italy was a major factor in the decision.

"We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction," he said.

"We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic."

Thursday 12st

Morrison govt pledges $17.6 billion stimulus package

The package included cash for pensioners and people on welfare, wage subsidies for apprentices and expanded tax breaks for businesses buying new equipment.

Sunday 15th

National death toll hits five

They were aged 90, 77, 95, 82 and 78.

Tuesday 17th

Australia declares human biosecurity emergency

"(The act) regards the recognition of the threat of the coronavirus and the need for the federal government to take action under the Health Minister and myself in relation to limiting the spread of the virus," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Wednesday 18th

Indoor gatherings of 100 + people banned

Mr Morrison said: "We haven't seen this sort of thing in Australia since the end of the First World War."

He also calls for an end to "unnecessary panic buying".

DFAT Level 4 'do not leave' for all countries

"Do not travel overseas at this time. If you wish to return home, do so as soon as possible."

"We now advise all Australians: do not travel overseas at this time. This is our highest advice level (level 4 of 4)," the Smart Traveller alert stated at the time.

Thursday 19th

Departing international flights suspended. All non-citizens and non-residents banned from entering Australia

"About 80 per cent of the cases we have in Australia are either the result of someone who has contracted the virus overseas or someone who has had direct contact with someone who returned from overseas," Mr Morrison said.

"We are now no longer allowing anyone, unless they are a citizen or resident."

Friday 20th

Ruby Princess cruise passengers disembark in Sydney

All 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark at Sydney's Circular Quay, despite the ship previously logging 158-cases of illness on an earlier voyage.

Saturday 21st

Crowds flock to Bondi despite social distancing directive from authorities

As temperatures soared above 30C, hoards of people flocked to Bondi Beach, despite new social distancing regulations restricting people gathering in groups.

Sunday 22nd

Second stimulus package announced

Mr Morrison announces a second-stage $66 billion economic stimulus package, warning "we cannot prevent all the many hardships, many sacrifices that we will face in the months ahead".

Monday 23rd

Pubs and restaurants closed in tough stage one restrictions announced for all Australians

Registered and licensed clubs, licensed premises in hotels and pubs, entertainment venues, cinemas, casinos, nightclubs, indoor sporting venues, gyms and places of worship close across the country.

Restaurants and cafes restricted to takeaway and shopping centres stay open.

Tuesday 24th

Thousands queue for Centrelink around country as job cuts begin

Long queues form after the online portal for government services crashed, as people scramble to apply for benefits as job losses mount due to the economic impact of the coronavirus.

First Ruby Princess passenger dies

The woman in her 70s was transported directly to hospital from the Ruby Princess which docked in Sydney on March 19. She was admitted to RPA Hospital where she later died.

Wednesday 25th

Tougher stage two restrictions announced including limits on weddings and funerals

Confusion as the Federal Government's second stage of restrictions begin to roll out across the country. Beauty services closed, but hairdressers open. Personal training to go ahead, but with no more than 10 people, outdoors, and observing physical distancing rules. Weddings continue with no more than five people in attendance, funerals limited to a maximum of 10 people.

PM's barre comment

Providing some much needed comedic relief, the prime minister struggles to pronounce and obviously had no idea what barre was, despite the type of exercise being included in the new restrictions.

Thursday 26th

Global death toll surpasses 20,000

The number of people who test positive for the virus worldwide passes 400,000, with more than 20,000 recorded deaths. More than 100,000 recover.

Friday 27th

All arrivals from overseas must self-quarantine in hotels for 14 days

Thousands flying into Australia now shuttled to hotel quarantine facilities across the country. Passengers landing at all nations airports now being transferred onto buses to be sent to hotels across the city by police.

Sunday 29th

Moratorium on evictions for renters

Renters offered a moratorium on evictions in a bid to deal with the financial impact of COVID-19 and job losses. Mr Morrison announces a "series of principles" had been agreed at a National Cabinet meeting.

"The most significant of those 'principals' is that states and territories will be moving to put a moratorium on evictions of persons as a result of financial distress … for the next six months," he said.

Gatherings down to two; four reasons to leave the house announced

Scott Morrison tells Australians self-isolation restrictions now at a level where people should remain at home at all times unless they are doing the following:

• Buying essential supplies
• To work, if unable to work from home
• To exercise
• To attend personal medical appointments, or for compassionate reasons

Monday 30th

$130 billion wages support package announced

Mr Morrison says the scheme was the biggest economic lifeline in the nation's history.

"Today is about defending and protecting Australia's national sovereignty," he told parliament.

Tuesday 30th

Cluster of cases emerges among Qantas baggage handlers in Adelaide

Union representing airline baggage handlers accuses Qantas of not doing enough to protect workers from coronavirus after outbreak at Adelaide Airport. South Australia reports seven new cases linked to six Qantas baggage handlers who tested positive to COVID-19, seeing the cluster swell to 13.