Maintaining strict lockdowns until June could drive a 50 per cent greater economic boost than if measures were slowly eased a month earlier, under one of two COVID-19 recovery plans presented to the government.

University researchers have given government leaders two strategies to recover from the coronavirus pandemic – controlled adaptation with restrictions eased sooner, or elimination, which could keep restrictions in place until June but increase public confidence and economic activity.

Vicki Thomson, chief executive of the Group of Eight universities, which have proposed a "roadmap to recovery". Credit:Attila Csaszar

More than 100 researchers from the Group of Eight universities contributed to the "Roadmap to Recovery" report, which was delivered to Health Minister Greg Hunt and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee this week. It is the most comprehensive analysis performed on the economic, social and health trade-offs involved in the national recovery from the pandemic.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said no national restrictions will be eased before May 11. With only 12 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to Tuesday – and only one a confirmed community transmission – some states and territories want to relax some rules. Mr Hunt labelled the low number of cases a "cause for hope".