Australia at Permanent Risk of Second COVID-19 Wave

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government Professor Brendan Murphy sanitise their hands on arrival for a National Cabinet meeting at Parliament House on March 20, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Australia is at permanent risk of a second wave of COVID-19 cases, the nation’s chief medical officer has warned.

Brendan Murphy has told a Senate inquiry into the federal government’s COVID-19 response that authorities are keeping a close eye on Singapore, which initially tracked well but is now dealing with a surge in cases.