ਜਦੋਂ ਤੱਕ ਕਰੋਨਾ ਵਾਇਰਸ ਦੀ ਦਵਾਈ ਨਹੀਂ ਮਿਲ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਉਦੋਂ ਤੱਕ ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਆ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਹਰੇਕ ਵਿਜੀਟਰ ਨੂੰ ਇਕਾਂਤਵਾਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ

No end in sight to Australia's visitor quarantine until COVID-19 vaccine, CMO Brendan Murphy warns

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has admitted that quarantine measures forced on international travellers coming into Australia may have to stay in place until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.

But Dr Murphy did indicate there was the chance those restrictions could be eased at some point in the future with countries like New Zealand, where the coronavirus transmission rate is extremely low.

Anyone entering Australia from overseas is quarantined in a hotel for two weeks before being allowed to return home.

"There may be a situation where a country has effectively eliminated or got very low cases. For example, New Zealand, we might have a situation where it could be relaxed," Dr Murphy said.

People in white protection gear queue in front of the security check at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, April 9, 2020. Due to the coronavirus about 95 percent of the flights had to be cancelled. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (AP/AAP)

"But if you're coming from a country where there is significant community transmission, I think that the impact of our quarantine measures on what's happened in Australia has been huge."

Professor Murphy said from today all states and territories will test anyone with respiratory symptoms.

"So that anybody with acute respiratory symptoms - cough, sore throat, runny nose, cold symptoms, flu-like symptoms - can get tested," Professor Murphy said.

"This will significantly expand the population of people tested. We're pretty confident that most of them will be negative, but this will give us a really broad reach of what we call passive surveillance."

Professor Murphy said the decision was made after presenting to the National Cabinet today advanced versions of what a "pandemic intelligence plan".

The plan, which includes a surveillance plan, will test extensively with a focus on any clusters that might appear over coming weeks.