Senate Inquiry To Probe Australia's Coronavirus Response

Australia's coronavirus response will be put under the microscope for the first time as the federal government eyes economic reform to help the nation recover from the crisis.

The nation's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy and Department of Health secretary Caroline Edwards will on Thursday front the first public hearing of a Senate inquiry into the COVID-19 response.

The inquiry will look at health and economic issues, and will hold hearings twice a week from next week.

It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg look at tax cuts, deregulation and industrial relations reform as part of a suite of measures to help on the other side of the crisis.

Big business is pushing for company tax cuts to be revived.

Australia's coronavirus death toll has reached 74 but the rate of new infections continues to drop, prompting eased restrictions on elective surgeries.

While there has been more than 6,600 cases detected nationally, 4,761 people have recovered from the disease.

The average daily rise in cases is now at 0.3 per cent but Australia's deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly says it's no reason to put the brakes on social distancing measures.

"Just because you're slowing down, you don't take the parachute off when you're approaching the landing -- you wait until you've landed," he told reporters in Canberra.

Morrison spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday about the need to improve global institutions such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).

They also spoke about the need for transparency in a clear reference to China, which has reacted angrily to Australia's calls for an independent review of the origins of the virus.

Morrison pushed the case for the review in phone calls with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

National cabinet is expected to receive further advice on schools at its Friday meeting as it prepares to release its coronavirus tracing app.

A 40 per cent take-up of a coronavirus contact tracing app is among the government's benchmarks for relaxing restrictions.

The app uses Bluetooth connections to track down people's contact with others carrying the disease.

A support line has also been set up for older Australians to support the mental health of those affected by the virus.