Governments across Australia have earmarked $1 billion to fight the spread of coronavirus.

Key points: Scott Morrison has confirmed the Commonwealth will go 50-50 with states to meet the public health cost of coronavirus treatment

Scott Morrison has confirmed the Commonwealth will go 50-50 with states to meet the public health cost of coronavirus treatment $100 million has become immediately available with more funds to be released from Federal Government coffers as necessary

$100 million has become immediately available with more funds to be released from Federal Government coffers as necessary In recent days cases have risen across the country, with Mr Morrison's home state of NSW being the most affected

Australia has seen increasing cases of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in recent days. There are currently 61 confirmed cases, and two people have died.

On Friday Prime Minister Scott Morrison said measures to respond to the outbreak would cost "at least" $1 billion and said the cost would be spread between federal, state and territory governments.

"The costs will be what the costs are, but we are estimating based on advice we have at the moment that this could be as much as about $1 billion, $500 million each, that we would at least have to be allowing for," Mr Morrison said.

"I hope it is not as much. It could be more.

"But we at least have to enter into these arrangements having some sense of the scale of what we're dealing with here."

The Federal Government will immediately put $100 million into the fund, and increase its contribution as needed.

Mr Morrison said the standalone fund was separate to pre-existing health funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and states.

The fund will cover costs that have been incurred since January 21.

It means if someone presents to a hospital with coronavirus, the new fund will cover the costs of their treatment, instead of dipping into the existing pools of public health funds.

"We are not seeking to tie anything else to this agreement," Mr Morrison said.

"This is about COVID-19, this is about doing what we need to do, doing it swiftly so everyone can just get on with the job."

Typically, the Commonwealth pays 45 per cent of the costs of patients presenting in hospitals.

Under the new fund, that will increase to 50 per cent.

But Health Minister Greg Hunt said the 50-50 split is not just limited to coronavirus costs within the hospital system.

"It is a very, very good outcome for the states," he said.

"I think they recognise that. And in addition, whereas hospitals agreement literally covers what happens in hospitals, we will deal with all of the public health items outside of hospitals."

The announcement came as 70 health officials from across the country met in Canberra to discuss how to ensure Australia's most vulnerable people are kept safe from COVID-19.

The aged care sector is looking at how it would find additional staff if there was a coronavirus outbreak in nursing homes.

Concerns have been raised about where additional help would come from if a number of workers and the elderly fell ill.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said the Government was considering several options.

"Whether they come in from some outside providers, whether it's the way that we manage the existing workforce, and a number of other quite novel ideas that we can consider as a Government is to allow some of the existing workforce to provide additional capacity," he said.