UPDATED:
A NATIONAL cabinet consisting of leaders of all states and territories and Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been formed as the coronavirus spreads across the country.
Organised non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people should be reconsidered as of Monday.
The move comes on the back of recomendations from Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy to that effect.
At a press conference following the Council of Australian Governments on Friday Prof Murphy said periods of constant contact of more than two hours proved most conducive to transmission.
Mr Morrison said government was seeking to contain and manage transmission of the virus.
He said slowing the spread of the disease meant states' and territories' hospital systems would better cope.
He urged the Australian public to remain calm.
Earlier in the day both Mr Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese would be going to a rugby league match on Saturday.
Mr Morrison said he would still be going because "it might be the last game I get to go to in a long time - I suspect we'll be watching it on TV".
He said the decision had only been made in the last hour, in a broadcast that began just after 3pm.
Travel advice level three has now been issued by the government - that means any non-essential international travel should be "reconsidered".
Prof Murphy said tactics employed so far had been effective but there was now increasing evidence of community transmissions.
He said supply chain shutdowns have caused a shortage of "consumables relating to testing for the virus".
Earlier
The Council of Australian Governments has been told gatherings of more than 500 people across the country should be banned as coronavirus spreads.
The chief medical officer made the comments in Syndey at a COAG meeting.
Three cases were confirmed in Orange on Friday and that disclosure came just hours after the Australian F1 Grand Prix was cancelled.
Victoria on Friday reported its first case of someone who had not travelled overseas, nor had contact with anyone known to have the disease.
Friday's COAG meeting in Sydney gathered the prime minister, premiers and chief ministers from every state and territory.
