"You are our best hope of stopping coronavirus." Last night, Leigh Sales addressed the nation.

Last night, during the opening of ABC’s 7.30, Leigh Sales directly addressed the nation.

As the program began, Sales spoke directly to the camera, pleading with Australians to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously. She explained that neither the hospitals nor government will be the answer; it will ultimately come down to us.

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“You may be watching 7.30 tonight hoping to learn what can be done to stop coronavirus from here. If you think the answer is more resources for hospitals, you’re wrong,” she began.

“If you think it’s the government, wrong again. And it’s not the scientists working on a vaccine either.

“The answer is you. You are our best hope of stopping coronavirus. Your individual behaviour is the most important thing to prevent it from spreading and everything else flows from that.”

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Sales concluded by pointing out that many Australians do not seem to grasp the seriousness of the virus spreading, as seen last Friday at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

“So far, many Australians are behaving as if, for some reason, we’re magically immune from going through the tragedy unfolding in Italy.

“We’re not. And unless people change their behaviour, that’s exactly what will happen.”

The program followed with an interview with a passenger from the Ruby Princess cruise ship, after various people tested positive for coronavirus. Dr Norman Swan also answered more questions about COVID-19.

You can watch the full episode here.

Read more:

• What you need to know about COVID-19 today, Tuesday March 24.
• “I was shaking and felt like I was dying.” 11 people on what it feels like to have COVID-19.
• No, COVID-19 isn’t just an “old” person’s disease. Here’s what you need to know.

The Australian Government Department of Health advises that the only people who will be tested for COVID-19 are those with symptoms who have either returned from overseas in the past 14 days or been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days. 

If you are sick and believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your GP ahead of time to book an appointment. Or call the national Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000. 

To keep up to date with the latest information, please visit the Department of Health website.

Feature image: Facebook/ABC News.