Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy and Prime Minister Scott Morrison address the media in Canberra.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
"Visits should be conducted in a resident's room,outdoors or in a specific area designated by the facility,rather than communal areas where the risk of transmission to other residents is greater,"he said.
"There should be no large group visits or gatherings. Including social activities or entertainment to be permitted at this time."
Mr Morrison said Australia's travel advice had been lifted to level four for the entire world.
Loading
"That is the first time that has ever happened in Australia's history,"he said."The travel advice to every Australian is'do not travel abroad'. For those who are thinking of going overseas in the school holidays,don't go overseas."
The Governor-General authorised the declaration of a human biosecurity emergency on Wednesday,giving the government the power to enforce quarantine measures.
"We are going to keep Australia running,"Mr Morrison said.
"It won't look like it normally does but it is very important that we continue to put in place measures that are scalable and sustainable."
Mr Morrison said Australia should prepare for"at least six months"of disruption as health authorities attempt to get on top of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media on covid-19.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
There are now 454 cases of the disease in Australia,including 210 in NSW and 94 in Victoria. More than 197,000 cases have been confirmed around the world,causing 7905 deaths. Up to 81,000 people have recovered.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said a short-term two to four week Italian-style shut down of society was not recommended by any of Australia's experts.
"It does not achieve anything. We have to be in this for the long haul. It could be six months or more that we have to practice these new ways of interacting. So therefore,our measures have to be sustainable,"he said
"There is no way that we can lock down society and make everyone stay home and then in a month's time,undo that,because the virus will just flare up again without any real long-term benefit."
Mr Morrison reiterated that for most Australians,the illness would be mild,but said for the more vulnerable,including the elderly and those with other health concerns,the disease could have serious consequences.
"This is a far more serious condition for them,"he said.