They're constantly listed as the last thing Aussies will see open again but health authorities insist just one simple thing needs to happen.
Restaurants and bars are often touted as the last things to reopen in Australia.
But Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said there's one simple thing needed to get the country's hospitality businesses up and running again.
Speaking to A Current Affair, Dr Murphy said health authorities didn't need to put a timeframe on it - all they needed was "just good solid control".
"If earlier relaxation were not accompanied by further outbreaks, we were still under good control, and a period of time had elapsed where measures had not had an adverse effect as it takes two weeks for measures to have an impact," he said.
READ MORE: Follow the latest virus news
Australia has now recorded over 6720 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3004 in New South Wales, 1350 in Victoria, 1033 in Queensland, 438 in South Australia, 549 in Western Australia, 214 in Tasmania, 106 in the Australian Capital Territory and 28 in the Northern Territory. A total of 83 deaths have been recorded nationally.
Our live coverage has ended today. Here's how it played out.
Two additional cases of coronavirus in Tasmania have been confirmed tonight, bringing the state's total to 214.
The cases, a man and a woman, are again from the state's north-west, one aged in their 20s and one in their 60s.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said the two were close contacts of confirmed cases.
As NSW moves to open some of its busiest beaches for swimming and exercise, police have issued some advice for keen surfers.
Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama will reopen tomorrow morning and are expected to be busy as hundreds of locals get their salt water fix.
In a Facebook post tonight, NSW Police and Surfing Australia offered some advice.
Veterinary scientists from the University of Sydney have joined more than 40 experts from across the Asia-Pacific searching for ways to prevent the spread of zoontic disease – illness transmitted from animals to humans.
Program leader and associate professor Navneet Dhand said the project will work with government agencies and animal health educators in the Asia-Pacific region to detect, respond, control and prevent animal disease outbreaks that could affect human health, animal health and farmer livelihoods.
He said the majority of emerging infectious diseases are spread from animals to humans, as highlighted recently with COVID-19.
“To protect humans from these diseases we must look for pathogens and disease ‘upstream’ in domestic animals and wildlife before they spread to the human population,” Prof Dhand said in a statement.
“Our program will support our neighbours’ efforts to deal with these emerging threats and in doing so, strengthen Australia’s biosecurity, health and economy.”
Zoontic diseases are spreading faster than ever before due to population growth, urbanisation, land-use change, encroachment into wild habitats and increasing global air travel, Prof Dhand added.
“These diseases can spread rapidly across borders and have huge economic and health impacts. We are finding this out right now with coronavirus,” he said.
“Our focus on disease surveillance will support veterinary authorities to identify any change in animal health patterns so that early intervention and preventative actions can be taken to stop the spread of disease.”
The $4.3 million program will run for three years and operate in Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Timor- Leste, Vanuatu and Vietnam.
– Ashlea Witoslawski, AAP
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan laughed off some rude praise at a press conference this afternoon – but the real star of the show was his Auslan interpreter.
WA announced it would drop some restrictions yesterday – including easing the two person rule to 10 people.
An enthusiastic local seemed to appreciate the relaxing restrictions, leaning out his window to scream at the state's premier.
"Woo Mark McGowan, I f**king love you buddy," he screamed before speeding off.
And not missing a beat, the Auslan interpreter for the press conference, also managed to emphatically sign the quick exchange.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said there's one simple thing needed to get the country's hospitality businesses up and running again.
Speaking to A Current Affair, Dr Murphy said health authorities didn't need to put a timeframe on it – all they needed was "just good solid control".
"If earlier relaxation were not accompanied by further outbreaks, we were still under good control, and a period of time had elapsed where measures had not had an adverse effect as it takes two weeks for measures to have an impact," he said.
"The most important thing at the moment is getting the kids back to school. That in itself, we need to monitor. Then, the National Cabinet will look at things two to four weeks after that, reassess what is happening."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has congratulated the more than two million Aussies who have downloaded the COVID tracing app.
"Well done Australia," Mr Morrison said.
The government has consistently said 40 per cent of Australians using the app – or 10 million people – is a good ballpark for keeping coronavirus in check.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has said he is "very happy" that police found "no evidence" of an alleged illegal dinner party among Tasmania's healthcare workers.
Speaking on A Current Affair tonight, Mr Murphy said he was "plagued" by the fact the rumour had made it to the media after he commented on it during a meeting with New Zealand's parliamentary committee.
"I did not realise it will be in the public domain. But you make a mistake, you retract it and I am very pleased that there was no such event," he said.
"It makes me very happy."
Tasmanian Police dismissed the rumour earlier today.
The probe was launched earlier this month after Dr Murphy made the suggestion to a New Zealand parliamentary committee.
He quickly withdrew the claim after Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein pointed out contact tracing had found no evidence of a gathering.
Mr Gutwein, however, passed on the matter to police for investigation. “Investigators have determined that there is no evidence of such a gathering occurring,” Tasmania Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said in a statement today.
All bar one of the state’s 11 virus deaths have been in the northwest amid an outbreak at Burnie’s private and public hospitals, with scores of staff testing positive.
Prof Murphy told the parliamentary committee on April 14 most of the people involved in the cluster of cases went to an “illegal dinner party”.
Later on the same day, Mr Gutwein retorted that Prof Murphy was “speaking about a rumour”.
An independent investigation into the outbreak will be held while the state government plans to release its report into the cause and spread of the cluster within days.
Of Tasmania’s 212 cases, more than two-thirds have been recorded in the northwest.
Dr Brendan Murphy said there would be a number of behavioural changes Australians would probably adopt forever.
"I think hand hygiene is here forever," he told A Current Affair.
"I don't think people will treat their hands the same ever in the future. We will be using disinfectant, that is the right thing to do, we should
have been doing it beforehand.
"We might be less inclined to hop into crowded lifts in the future.
"True social distancing measures, we need to do those until the virus is out of our lives, vaccine or any other way."
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has again encouraged young people to download the app and get tested even if they have mild symptoms.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases are the highest in people aged between 20 and 29.
"They are the ones that have the most frequency of the virus, they are also spreading it because they are usually very mildly symptomatic," Dr Murphy said on A Current Affair.
"Often they just have a mild cold. They are not like an older person, who can get quite sick. They are mobile are moving around.
"Some people have gone to work, not realising they were transmitting, because they had mild symptoms."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has returned to work today after surviving coronavirus.
Appearing outside 10 Downing Street in his first public address since he was treated in a London intensive care unit, the PM faced calls to ease lockdown restrictions in order to save the economy.
The UK death toll rose to 20,732 on Sunday – but the increase of 413 in a day was the lowest rise since March.
“If this virus were a physical assailant an unexpected and invisible mugger which I can tell you from personal experience it is then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor,” he said.
A popular creator who amassed a following after being diagnosed with a “rare” cancer at age 20 has tragically lost her battle.
Khloe Kardashian has shocked fans with before-and-after photos following the removal of a skin cancer on her left cheek.
“Baffled” doctors have issued an extraordinary global appeal to help identify a mystery “patient with no name” before he passes away.