The nation’s death toll stands at 75 after a Victorian man died in hospital overnight.
“Let’s not forget that in countries that are smaller than Australia, like Belgium – 6262 people have died,” Morrison said.
“In the Netherlands, 4678 have died.
‘If you look at the fatality rates as a proportion of population, in the United States it is almost 50 times higher than Australia.
“In France it is over 100 times higher than Australia.
“In the United Kingdom also, just under 100 times higher.”
Morrison noted that all those countries were “sophisticated, developed countries” with good health systems.
“This can happen in Australia if we are not careful and that is why Australians and our governments have been so careful to balance the needs to get our economy back to a COVID-safe level,” he said.
Morrison also expressed his sadness about the 75 Australians who have died from the virus.
The prime minister said Australia was “in this together” and urged people to embrace the new mobile tracing app that will soon be released, again linking its download to a civic duty.
“This is a public health tool, to assist health officers and state and territory governments, when someone has contracted the coronavirus, to assist them in that work to contact others who may have been put at risk,” he said.
“That’s what we’re trying to do here. That protects every Australian.
“Every Australian will be safer if those health officers are able to contact you more quickly if you have been exposed to the coronavirus and, importantly, that means that you will be less at risk of infecting others if they can get to you fast.”
