Mixed messaging around coronavirus has caused confusion and is potentially contributing to an increased public health risk, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has warned.

Key points: The AMA said patients were receiving contradictory advice about whether to go to hospital

The AMA said patients were receiving contradictory advice about whether to go to hospital Current testing for coronavirus currently differs between states

Current testing for coronavirus currently differs between states The AMA said that strengthened the case for a national disease control centre

The AMA said differences between state and federal jurisdictions had led to inconsistent advice to patients suspected of having coronavirus disease.

South Australian branch president Dr Chris Moy said initial advice provided in some states, including SA and Victoria, did not make it clear such individuals should ring from home before heading to hospital to provide advanced warning.

"Working in general practice … we wouldn't want to expose the receptionist or the people in the waiting room," he said.

Dr Moy said posters in Victorian and SA hospitals had originally recommended patients make an initial presentation in person — but said that was changed in SA after he intervened.

"There was messaging that was very inconsistent. GPs were getting quite frustrated," he said.

"Posters federally and also some states were saying 'go see your doctor, go see your GP'.

"We gave advice in South Australia very early that the advice should be that you ring the receptionist or the doctor first."

Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services has been contacted for comment.

However, its website now recommends recent travellers to affected countries call a dedicated hotline.

NSW Health also said it was recommending people "self-monitor for symptoms and practice social distancing".

"If you develop symptoms, you must immediately isolate yourself and seek medical attention. Please call your doctor, or your local Emergency Department or healthdirect," it said in a statement.

China is currently processing thousands of coronavirus tests each day. ( cnsphoto via Reuters )

The AMA said current testing for coronavirus also varied between states, with South Australia's chief public health officer declaring South Australia was leading the nation.

"We're the only state testing more broadly — so anybody who has a respiratory illness," Dr Nicola Spurrier told ABC Radio Adelaide.

"This is a way we'll be able to pick up that community-based transmission more easily."

Dr Moy said while it was "not feasible" to test everyone with a cold, anyone in South Australia who was being tested for unknown respiratory conditions would also be tested for coronavirus.

"We are testing, as per the protocols across the country, for individuals at a high risk with certain criteria," he said.

"[But] if an individual comes in and we think they may have a cold, this test is automatically added onto that.

"In South Australia, there is a potential to pick up a stray case that wouldn't have otherwise been picked up … under the national guidelines at the moment."

Coronavirus response an 'exam we need to pass'

The AMA has previously called for the creation of a national centre for disease control, which would coordinate responses to epidemics across the nation.

The AMA said initial advice in SA did not recommend at-risk individuals make contact over the phone. ( Supplied )

Dr Moy said the current coronavirus outbreak strengthened the case for such an organisation.

"There is a need for a centre for disease control which is a national-type coordination body," Dr Moy said.

"We do the research beforehand, make the decision-making at an expert level, have the strategy and playbook on how to manage something in the vault already ready to go, make sure the strategy and resourcing is consistent across the country.

"We're doing alright at the moment but it feels like we've crammed for an exam rather than studied consistently.

"This is a very serious exam we need to pass … we shouldn't be having a situation where we feel like we're scrambling."

SA Health has created a dedicated clinic for coronavirus patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and said it was currently waiting test results for more than a dozen people.

A poster outside of the COVID-19 testing clinic. ( ABC News: Stacey Lee )

"That is a very important step because it means that, first of all, when our EDs are busy we don't have additional pressure on those services for people who need to be have assessment and a test done," Dr Spurrier said.

"It's also very important from a public health point of view because it means that we're keeping people who may have the virus separate from those people who have other reasons to go to hospital."

Earlier this week, the SA Government announced new laws giving Dr Spurrier expanded powers to detain and quarantine people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The amendments give the chief public health officer to verbally order the detention of a person if they are considered to be at risk of spreading a disease such as coronavirus.