Asia Virus Latest: Markets Fall, Aussies In Quarantine

Here are the latest developments in Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:

Asian markets fell following a steep drop on Wall Street as the jubilation from last week's enormous US stimulus package faded and investors returned their attention to the soaring infection and death rate of the pandemic.

Equities have been hammered as the virus spreads and the global economy heads for recession, but they bounced back for a few days last week as governments worldwide unleashed unprecedented rescue measures.

Thousands of Australians returning from overseas were holed up in hotels for a mandatory 14-day quarantine as the country stepped up measures to slow the spread of the virus.

Some returning travellers have complained about conditions in the five-star hotels, reportedly writing in a private Facebook group that their food deliveries had been rejected and they had not received requested medication.

The government also announced it would spend Aus$130 billion ($80 billion) to supplement workers' wages over the next six months.

China's central bank cut an interest rate on loans to banks by the largest margin in five years and injected 50 billion yuan ($7 billion) into the financial system to help the world's second-largest economy weather the impact of the pandemic.

The People's Bank of China said it launched a 50-billion-yuan reverse repurchase operation and lowered the seven-day reverse repurchase rate.

New Zealanders have become so keen to report their neighbours for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules that police said a website dedicated to addressing the issue crashed soon after going live.

The South Pacific nation is in the midst of a four-week lockdown, with residents under orders to stay at home or remain at least two metres (6.5 feet) apart if they must go outside.

New dates for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics will likely be revealed this week, organisers said after the coronavirus forced the historic decision to postpone the Games until next year.

Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori told reporters they were weighing the pros and cons of a summer and spring Games and he expected a decision from the International Olympic Committee soon.

Hong Kong has handed down its first convictions over violations of strict quarantine rules, with three people jailed over the breaches, local media reported.

A homeless man was jailed for three months after falsifying a home address to evade the isolation rules following his arrival from mainland China, while two other people were jailed for six weeks and 10 days respectively, the reports said.

Microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung, a leading expert in the city's fight against the virus, warned on Monday that the outbreak there has got "slightly out of control", as confirmed infections increased threefold to 641 in the past two weeks.

The popular Thai holiday island has introduced even tougher restrictions than the rest of the kingdom -- which has declared a state of emergency -- with people and vehicles barred from leaving, although air travel is still an option.

The government took the step after more than 40 virus cases were discovered on the island.

Australia's National Rugby League rolled out an emergency rescue package to ensure all 16 clubs can stay afloat during the coronavirus shutdown, with plans to resume the season on July 1.

Funding was agreed that will see each team get an extra Aus$2.5 million to cover operational costs between April and October, paid for by the NRL slashing its staffing levels by 95 percent, cutting the governing body's own expenses by half.