NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin has quit his portfolio two days after it was revealed he'd decamped to his Central Coast holiday home during the coronavirus crisis.

Regional NSW towns will soon have access to rapid coronavirus testing meaning samples won't have to be sent to Sydney for analysis.

A senior health official says Australia is on the "cusp" of seeing the coronavirus dying out locally but he warned if social distancing measures were relaxed the epidemic could yet explode.

A 69-year-old has become the 22nd person to die of the novel coronavirus in NSW as residents are reminded to halt all-but-essential travel over the Easter break.

Cardinal George Pell had a practice of meeting parishioners on the steps of St Patrick's Cathedral after Mass.

Police in Tasmania will use helicopters to monitor people's movements as part of an Easter long weekend coronavirus crackdown.

The full impact of the shutdown measures put in place to limit COVID-19 in NSW won't be known for some weeks as the premier implores people to remain vigilant and stay home over Easter.

Australians are being urged to spend Easter "locking in the gains" made from the strict coronavirus measures as the nation recorded fewer than 100 daily infections for the first time in three weeks.

Drones, the police helicopter, mounted patrols and other resources will be deployed to monitor South Australia's traditional Easter holiday locations to ensure compliance with coronavirus restrictions.

Australia's coronavirus campaign will be boosted with the production of an additional 2000 ventilators under a federal government deal.