Prime Minister Scott Morrison has launched a national COVID-19 Coordination Commission to anticipate and solve economic and social problems arising from the coronavirus pandemic and advise the government on appropriate actions to take.

Addressing the media in Canberra on Wednesday, he also announced that all non-urgent elective surgery will be suspended "until further notice" from midnight on March 26 due to the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:AAP

"Cancellation of elective surgery will allow the preservation of resources like personal protective equipment and allow health services to prepare for their role in the COVID-19 outbreak," Mr Morrison said.

The COVID-19 Coordination Commission will include eminent Australians from the private and public sector, headed by former mining magnate Neville Power, with CSIRO chairman and former Telstra chief David Thodey to be deputy chairman.