Australians could face a stage 3 shutdown if the coronavirus pandemic gets worse.

Key points: A public health expert says a stage 3 shutdown would send a clear message

A public health expert says a stage 3 shutdown would send a clear message If Australia follows the UK's lead, retail shops could soon close

If Australia follows the UK's lead, retail shops could soon close International examples show newsagents, vets and hardware shops are essential businesses

This week Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced stage 2 of the government's scalable shutdown measures to curb social gatherings.

So, what could a stage 3 shutdown would look like for Australia?

Retailers could close

Australia's stage 3 shutdown would likely mirror the UK, where tougher restrictions were put in place to stop community transmission of the virus.

On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a coronavirus lockdown for at least three weeks.

All shops selling non-essential goods have been shut, schools closed and gatherings of more than two people banned.

Just like in Australia, libraries, gyms, places of worship, and children's playgrounds were also closed.

Hairdressing salons and most beauty service providers were closed.

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Online retail was still open and encouraged and the postal service was running as normal.

What would remain open?

While non-essential retail would likely be closed in Australia under a stage 3 shutdown scenario, there were many businesses in the UK still trading.

If Australia followed their example, people would still be able to visit:

Corner shops and newsagents

Corner shops and newsagents Vet surgeries

Vet surgeries Agricultural supply shops

Agricultural supply shops Dry cleaners

Dry cleaners Hardware shops

Petrol stations, grocery stores, banks and pharmacies would also remain open.

What about tradies?

In the United Kingdom tradespeople are still permitted to make home visits. ( ABC News: Billy Draper )

Under a stage 3 shutdown, it's likely tradespeople could still operate in people's homes.

In the UK, work carried out in private homes was still permitted provided that the tradesperson was well and had no symptoms.

No work was allowed in any household where a person was self-isolating.

New Zealand in lockdown

In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern already locked down her country in a bid to eradicate the virus.

Under tough stage four restrictions introduced on Wednesday, all businesses in New Zealand were closed except for essential services and lifeline utilities.

Essential services were deemed to be supermarkets, pharmacies and GP clinics.

Non-essential businesses and workers were still able to work as long as they did it from home.

Residents have been instructed to only make physical contact with those they lived with and while exercising is being encouraged, it's recommended as a solitary activity.

What the experts say

Public health expert Gerard Fitzgerald from the Queensland University of Technology said if Australia moved to a stage 3 shutdown it would send a clear message to Australians to stay home.

"Closing down non-essential shops and services won't necessarily provide us with greater protection against the virus but it will help reiterate the message about social distancing," Dr Fitzgerald said.

Meanwhile, economics professor Dr Ross Guest from Griffith University said businesses should not be closed unless absolutely necessary.

He said the government needed to balance the cost of the pandemic to public health and the economy.

"I don't think the cost of closing all non-essential services stacks up," Dr Guest said.

"What we are doing is crushing hundreds of thousands of small business people and crushing their lives, crushing their families for many year to come."