A summary of the major developments in the coronavirus outbreak across Australia

Good evening and here is our daily roundup of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in Australia. This is Elias Visontay bringing you the main stories on Monday 27 April.

Almost 2 million Australians download Covidsafe tracing app

Less than 24 hours after its launch, 1.89 million people had downloaded and registered for the government’s Covidsafe contact-tracing smartphone app.

Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) 1.89m people have now downloaded and registered for the #COVIDSafeApp as at 4pm today. This💪effort will help protect ourselves, our families, our nurses and our doctors. 🙏AUS as we work together to beat this virus. Visit an app store & download today.https://t.co/vn3Nof801T

The government announced the source code for the tracing app would become publicly available in two weeks, after committing to release it as a sign of transparency amid privacy concerns.

The app records the information of any other users who come within 1.5 metres of the phone for a period of 15 minutes, so authorities can alert them to get tested if they have interacted with someone who is diagnosed with Covid-19.

Investigation launched into coronavirus test claims

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has launched an investigation into an Australian company’s attempts to sell large quantities of unsanctioned coronavirus test kits, after it falsely claimed its tests had been approved by medical regulators.

Promedical Equipment Pty Ltd, a company that sells cryogenic treatment and erectile dysfunction machines, made headlines last month when it announced it had “obtained TGA go-ahead” to supply 5m rapid Covid-19 antibody test kits to Australian hospitals and labs every week.

Its chief executive Neran de Silva – a convicted rapist and former business associate of the government services minister, Stuart Robert – was quoted in the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail, and his representatives appeared on the Today Show and Paul Murray Live, where the development was described as an “amazing piece of news”.

But Guardian Australia revealed Promedical is now the subject of a TGA investigation, and has been disowned by the Chinese manufacturer of a TGA-approved test. It has also been enveloped in a separate US securities scandal after a Nasdaq-listed supply chain business was placed in a trading halt related to announcements it had struck a $805m deal to onsell 46m of the tests.



No ‘illegal dinner party’ in Tasmania

A police investigation has found no evidence health workers in north-west Tasmania held an “illegal dinner party” that contributed to Covid-19 spread.

The claim was made by the chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, in evidence to a New Zealand parliamentary hearing, which he then quickly rescinded.

“Investigators have determined that there is no evidence of such a gathering occurring,” Tasmania police said in a statement on Monday.

All but one of the state’s 11 virus deaths have been in the north-west, amid an outbreak at the private and public hospitals in Burnie where scores of staff tested positive.

Australians need to change the way they interact ‘permanently’

The chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, said life would not return to normal until there was a vaccine for Covid-19, telling Australians they would “need to change the way they interact permanently”.

“In the sensible way, like keeping distance from each other, hand hygiene, probably not permanently not shaking hands, but for the foreseeable future,” Murphy said.

“If we are going to relax these distancing measures, the things we have closed, we have to change how we interact as human beings until we are through with this virus,” he said.

During the government’s coronavirus update on Monday, Murphy also urged Australians to download the contact-tracing app, and said authorities would begin testing asymptomatic people for the virus.

Marise Payne responds to Chinese ambassador

The foreign affaris minister, Marise Payne, has responded to comments from the Chinese ambassador that Australia’s pursuit of an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and China’s reaction could result in a consumer retaliation.

“Australia has made a principled call for an independent review of the Covid-19 outbreak, an unprecedented global crisis with severe health, economic and social impacts. This would be undertaken at an appropriate time, fully acknowledging that many countries are continuing to deal with the challenges of the virus,” Payne said.

“A transparent and honest assessment of events will be critical as we emerge from the pandemic and learn important lessons to improve our response in the future.

“We reject any suggestion that economic coercion is an appropriate response to a call for such an assessment, when what we need is global cooperation,” she said.

Victoria to test 100,000 people in two weeks

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said his state would not follow Western Australia and Queensland in moving to relax social restrictions without looking at the data first.

He said the state planned to test 100,000 people over the next two weeks as part of the biggest testing program in the state’s history, to ensure it has a handle on the Covid-19 outbreak. Victoria recorded just one new case in the past 24 hours, with NSW registering two, Queensland three and the other states and territories none.

Quick guide How to get the latest coronavirus news from Guardian Australia Show Hide Email: sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter App: download it and never miss the biggest stories Social: follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter Podcast: listen to our daily episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or search "Full Story" in your favourite app

Auditor general to scrutinise spending

The auditor general’s office has said it will look over the government’s economic response to the pandemic after Labor requested a review.

“I intend to develop and publish an audit program of the government’s Covid-19 response, and work is now under way to develop the approach. The audit program will focus on providing parliament with transparency and assurance on management of the response,” the auditor general, Grant Hehir, said in a letter to Labor senator Katy Gallagher, who requested the review in March.

What you need to know: get the most important information from some of our key explainers

Looking for more coverage? Read the latest news from across the Guardian’s global network.