Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday ordered the closure of pubs, places of worship, gyms and cinemas, from midday Monday to combat coronavirus spread.
Restaurants, cafes and catering businesses have been instructed to switch to delivery and take-away services.
The decision comes after many people appeared to disregard health warnings, leading to a rapid rise in cases in the country.
Earlier, Morrison asserted that “too many Australians” are not taking the threat of COVID-19 seriously, with Sydney's beaches including Bondi recording large crowds over the weekend.
So far, the country has recorded 1,315 cases.
Meanwhile, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have shut down non-essential services for the next 48 hours.
It comes as the government announced an additional A$66.4 billion ($38.50 billion) as part of a second stimulus package to shelter the economy from the impact of coronavirus.
Canada and India have announced new high commissioners to each other's countries, in the latest sign of improving ties frayed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation that India was linked to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.
Israeli forces killed at least 16 Palestinians across Gaza on Thursday and wounded dozens in the south of the enclave, local health officials said, as residents reported intensified military bombardment in the suburbs of Gaza City.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit China to attend a military parade next week marking the formal surrender of Japan in World War II, state media said, in what is likely to be the biggest multilateral diplomatic event Kim has attended.
Russian forces launched a large-scale overnight drone and missile attack on Kyiv, killing 10 people, injuring 38, and damaging residential and other buildings across seven districts, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.