What we did about COVID-19 from 2020 to 2023

Find out how we responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and who we worked with to limit the spread of the disease and protect everyone in Australia between 2020 and 2023.

Pandemic period

On 21 January 2020, after a decision by Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy, ‘human coronavirus with pandemic potential’ was added to the Biosecurity (Listed Human Diseases) Determination 2016. This led to us:

On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

On 25 February 2020, the Australian Government activated the Emergency Response Plan for Communicable Disease Incidents of National Significance: National Arrangements.

On 11 March 2020, WHO declared a worldwide pandemic.

On 20 October 2023, the Australian Government determined that the COVID-19 pandemic was no longer a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS).

We now manage COVID-19 like other common communicable diseases.

Oral antiviral treatments

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provisionally approved some treatments for use in Australia by high-risk communities.

We worked with peak bodies to ensure these medications were:

  • listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
  • available to the public from pharmacies, with a prescription
  • available in prescriber bags for emergency use
  • pre-placed in residential aged care homes.

COVID-19 tests

During the pandemic we provided rapid antigen tests to those who needed them the most, including:

  • residential aged care homes, for screening residents, staff and visitors
  • Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health services
  • people in supported independent living services.

Vaccination

We worked to ensure that everyone in Australia had access to free vaccines as quickly as possible. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines.

Reporting

We worked with state and territory governments and health providers to capture data and streamline COVID-19 reporting into a single resource.

See the COVID-19 case numbers, vaccination rates and statistics for Australia.

National coordination

We worked with state and territory governments to:

  • share information so they could provide the best possible care
  • ensure the whole-of-government response was consistent and united across the country.

Our whole-of-government response aimed to:

  • minimise the number of people who became infected or sick with COVID-19
  • minimise severe illness and deaths from COVID-19
  • manage the demand on our health systems
  • help people manage their own risk and the risk to family and community
  • make COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone in Australia.

Expert advice

The Australian Government put together a team of widely respected clinicians and expert committees to advise on and assist with the COVID-19 response.

Policies and procedures

We put in place funding measures and plans to tackle the pandemic. We created plans specific to sectors, such as aged care, to ensure all Australians were covered.

See the:

Public health information

We published public health messaging about COVID-19 to raise awareness about:

  • symptoms
  • prevention
  • vaccination
  • treatment eligibility
  • government decisions.

Support

We funded and established: 

  • mental health support
  • financial support for aged care and disability workers, services and providers
  • healthcare support for all Australians.

Date last updated:

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