Parts of Australia could be closed off to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has warned as the nation's medical experts prepare for more "social distancing" measures.

Ahead of a phone hook-up of the Prime Minister, premiers and chief ministers, Professor Murphy said on Sunday that as the virus spread throughout Australia, different measures would be considered including shutting off parts of the country.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has signalled regional shutdowns may be necessary to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"It is potential that could be the case. But that may be local," he told ABC's Insiders.

"One of the things we know about outbreaks of infections is that they can affect one part of a country, not another.