Health boss warns Australian cities could be placed into European-style lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of the killer coronavirus
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Australia’s top health official hasn’t ruled out the possibility of forcing cities into lockdown if the coronavirus outbreak worsens.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy admitted drastic measures already in place in virus-stricken parts of Spain, France and Italy could be enforced in a desperate bid to slow down the spread of the deadly virus.
Professor Murphy said everything was up for consideration when he appeared on ABC’s Insiders alongside federal health minister Greg Hunt on Sunday morning.
‘It is a potential that could be the case,’ he said.
‘But that may be focal. One of the things we know about outbreaks of infections is that they can affect one part of a country, not another.’
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy (pictured) refused to rule out enforcing the drastic measure of city-wide lockdowns similar to ones already place in Europe
France became the latest European nation to shut all restaurants, shops, cinemas, nighclubs and cafes on Saturday as the French death toll rose to 91.
The Spanish government has also formally declared a state of emergency and forced the nation into lockdown.
Professor Murphy was asked by program host David Speers whether parts of certain cities such as Sydney could go rather than the entire nation.
‘Potentially you could,’ Professor Murphy replied.
‘The Koreans did that for two provinces, very successfully locked them down. Everything is up for consideration.
‘The premiers and the Prime Minister said to us, the health advisors, ‘give us your fearless advice and we will take it.’
![Sydney's streets could become deserted if the deadly coronavirus outbreak worsens. Pictured is Circular Quay on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/15/01/25983194-8113279-image-a-39_1584237418077.jpg)
Sydney’s streets could become deserted if the deadly coronavirus outbreak worsens. Pictured is Circular Quay on Saturday
Earlier in the program, Professor Murphy and Mr Hunt they weren’t infected with the virus, despite attending a meeting on Tuesday with Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton, who has since tested positive.
‘No one can be absolutely certain about everything but all of our advice, internationally, is that the peak infectious period is when you have symptoms,’ Professor said.
‘There have been very few cases of people transmitting the virus in the 24 hours beforehand.’
He also revealed parliament is planning to sit this week as scheduled, despite a government ban on public mass gathering from Monday.
‘We’re looking at a range of measures to reduce the number of people in the (parliament) building including staff and visitors, school groups are nearly all cancelled now,’ he said.
He urged people not yet infected to consider social distancing measures but go about their normal lives.
![Italy has gone into lockdown and forced the closure of all store exept for plarmacies and food. Pictured is Milan's Navigli district on Friday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/15/02/25983786-8113279-Navigli_distric-a-42_1584237787778.jpg)
Italy has gone into lockdown and forced the closure of all store exept for plarmacies and food. Pictured is Milan’s Navigli district on Friday
‘At the moment we are not suggesting people should stop using public transport,’ Professor Murphy said.
‘As the situation evolves, this will change. Our social distancing measures may well change over time. At the moment we’re ahead of the curve.’
‘This is an evolving situation. The advice right now is as a first step, we are suggesting that all non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people not proceed.’
Professor Murphy also labelled a recommendation by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton for households to stock up on two weeks’ of food supplies and 60 days worth of medicine as ‘premature’.
‘For most people, we don’t want to encourage major panic buying at the moment. We’ve seen that with the supermarket chains. But I think it is probably sensible to have a few days of supply,’ Professor Murphy said.
![Professor Murphy said potential lockdowns could be restricted to certain cities such as Sydney (pictured on Saturday) rather than nationwide](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/15/01/25983192-8113279-image-a-40_1584237430380.jpg)
Professor Murphy said potential lockdowns could be restricted to certain cities such as Sydney (pictured on Saturday) rather than nationwide