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Australians are being told it's okay to continue shaking people's hands, going to the gym and riding on public transport … for now.
But the chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, warns that advice will change as the number of coronavirus cases grows.
So what should Australians be doing in the midst of this global pandemic?
Professor Murphy wants everyone to be practising "good hygiene", which means washing your hands regularly.
While non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people are being cancelled, Australians are being advised it's OK to go to the movies and ride on trains, ferries and buses.
People can also continue going to the gym, as long as they wash their hands and use hand sanitizer.
Stocking up on "a few days'" worth of groceries would also be sensible, according to Professor Murphy.
"We don't want to encourage major panic buying at the moment — we've seen that with the supermarket chains," he says.
"But I think it is probably sensible to have a few days of supply."
What will happen as the virus spreads?
The Health Minister, Greg Hunt, expects the coronavirus outbreak to last for at least six months. He says "all options are on the table", including curbing travel and locking down parts of the country.
When it comes to schools, it's a bit more complex. The states can close schools if necessary, but they do not want to move too early.
"The schools question will be very much guided by the medical advice," Mr Hunt says.
The Minister insists Australia is "ahead of the curve" and is putting in place controls "dramatically earlier" than other countries.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Who should be taking extra precautions?
All travellers returning from overseas are being told to practise "social distancing".
Professor Murphy says that means staying about 1.5 metres away from other people, not shaking hands and avoiding public gatherings. So stay inside and stay away from other people.
The virus poses the greatest risk to people over the age of 70 and those with existing health conditions.
According to Professor Murphy, that cohort should avoid doing anything that is not essential.
"If you're over 70 and you've got chronic disease, at the moment your risk is very low but you may want to think about more social distancing in the future," he says.
What should you do if you come into contact with a person with the virus?
Professor Murphy says international evidence suggests a person with coronavirus is most contagious when they start showing symptoms.
So anyone who has been in "close contact" with a person showing symptoms — or in the 24 hours before they became symptomatic — is at risk of contracting the virus.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
Who is advising the Government?
The nation's chief medical officers and other health experts have been meeting for several hours every day to track the number of coronavirus cases and provide advice to the Commonwealth.
According to Mr Hunt, this committee, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, is the "paramount source of medical advice to the nation".
Separately, a "war-time" national cabinet has been set up, bringing together the Prime Minister and all state and territory leaders to respond to the crisis.
"Everything is up for consideration," Professor Murphy says.
"The premiers and the Prime Minister said to us, the health advisers, 'Give us your fearless advice and we will take it.'"
Topics: health, diseases-and-disorders, infectious-diseases-other, epidemics-and-pandemics, respiratory-diseases, australia
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