Public health experts have called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to release the modelling the government is using to make major decisions on coronavirus shut downs, arguing it would boost confidence in those choices and give people more clarity about when life may return to normal.

Mr Morrison has repeatedly said all measures taken to limit the spread of the virus must be long-term, possibly six months or longer. Epidemiologists are divided but many argue a short, sharp lockdown is still plausible, meaning some restrictions could likely be eased sooner.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media outside Parliament House on Friday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Julie Leask, a professor of public health and risk communication at the University of Sydney, said while it may not be possible to give people a time frame for lifting restrictions, governments could show people the criteria for those decisions.

"The Australian public has a right to know what sort of scenarios the government is planning for, what criteria are behind the decisions to escalate specific physical distancing measures, what is the rationale for those decisions, what costs are weighed in making those decisions - and what will be the criteria for de-escalating the measures," she said.