Updated March 14, 2020 17:24:37

A Federal Government coronavirus advertising blitz is tonight being rolled out across television, radio, newspapers, social media, billboards and bus stops around the country.

Criticism has been levelled against the Federal Government for delays in releasing a broad public information campaign, and $30 million was allocated to the mission last week.

There have been claims mixed messaging from Commonwealth, state and territory health officials has fuelled confusion in the community about the circumstances under which someone should be tested for coronavirus.

More than 200 infections have been recorded in Australia since the outbreak earlier this year, with authorities urging calm as the bulk of cases are described as "mild".

Strong emphasis has been placed on the need for good hygiene in the advertising campaign, with simple hand-washing front and centre.

People who have recently returned from overseas, or who have been in contact with those who have coronavirus, and are experiencing cold and flu-like symptoms are the only ones being urged to get tested at this stage.

Australia's chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, said the Health Department was working to ensure enough testing kits were available, after yesterday warning of some shortages.

"We don't want people with an ordinary mild cold in Australia to go and get tested," he said.

"We need to preserve the testing for those who need it."

Professor Murphy argued it was hard to predict when the number of cases of coronavirus would peak in Australia, but warned it may not be until the middle of the year.

"Every country is a bit different and they have a different experience," Professor Murphy said.

"We are modelling a range of scenarios and we're prepared for all of them."

Federal, state and territory leaders have warned non-essential public gatherings of more than 500 people should be suspended from Monday.

But Professor Murphy said closing schools was not "on the horizon".

"They are certainly something that could be considered if there's community outbreaks," he said.

"The interesting aspect about schools at the moment is that children don't seem to get either much in the way of infection or, if they do, they get very mild infections.

"So at this stage, we don't feel that school closures are warranted."

Topics: government-and-politics, epidemics-and-pandemics, health, health-policy, advertising, information-and-communication, australia

First posted March 14, 2020 17:01:09