Coronavirus: Australia suffers ‘significant further growth’ in infections

The chief medical officer has said the government’s 100 person limit on indoor spaces may not be enough to prevent infection - 20 people could be enough to pass the virus on.

The chief medial officer says there has been “significant further growth” in coronavirus cases in Australia – and that could grow even further if Australians returning from overseas don’t shut themselves away for a fortnight.

Talking alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Canberra this afternoon, Professor Brendan Murphy was said it was the “civic duty” of returning Australians to isolate.

However, he was concerned that some travellers might do the opposite and go an see their mates, potentially turbocharging the virus’ spread.

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He also said that the 100 person limit in an indoor space would mean nothing if people were cheek by jowl in each other’s faces. Under that circumstance, even 20 people could be a hazard.

“It's important to note that we are still seeing a large number of imported cases from other countries,” he said.

“We’ve now stopped foreign nationals coming into the country but there are still a lot of Australians coming home. Some of them coming from countries with a high risk, and outbreaks that we think are probably higher than reported, and a high risk of importing the virus into the country.”

Australia's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy says there had been ‘significant further growth’ in cases. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

‘THIS IS YOUR CIVIC DUTY’

Dr Murphy said all Australians returning from overseas needed to isolate immediately upon their return.

“This issue of quarantining when you come home is serious. This is not an advisory. This is your civic duty to your fellow Australians to stay home for that entire 14 days, if you've come back to Australia. No exceptions.

“And if you see anyone who is not abiding by that, a recent traveller, make sure they do because we are really serious about that. It is such a big impact on our outbreaks in the last few days.”

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Returned travellers, and people who have come into contact with them, should get tested even if they have “a sniffle or a cold,” he said.

Certainly no one should head out if they are under the weather health wise.

“We can't do that anymore. Nobody should be going to work or mixing with society or friends, or going out if they are unwell at all. Stay at home. Only go out when you're feeling well. Go to work when you're feeling well.”

‘NO POINT 20 PEOPLE GATHERING IN A TINY ROOM’

Dr Murphy added that social distancing had to be maintained, even if fewer than 100 people were in an indoor space which is the current government advice. The PM said in social situations people should maintain a four metre square exclusion zone between them and someone else.

“What we mean is that you should be distancing yourself from every fellow Australian where possible. That's why we have guidelines for people in gatherings of less than 100,” said Dr Murphy.

“It's no point having a gathering of 20 people if it's in tiny room and you're all together. You've got to practise social distancing. Keep that metre-and-a-half away from each other.”

Dr Murphy said the consequences of not abiding by the rules was dire.

“We've had few deaths so far. They're tragic and we've had very few people in intensive care.

“But there is a risk that if we don't do what every one of us has to do as our civic duty to control this spread, it will grow significantly greater.”