Thanks people for your responses; you won't believe it but I forgot about the beer! If I go bush, how am I going to keep the beer cold! That's decided it; I'm staying home, pandemic or no pandemic.

But seriously folks.. more good points raised by you all...

When I examine myself and my bias towards going bush I find my decision is swayed by the fact that I have spent an awful lot of time in the wilderness, and that doesn't mean commercial camping grounds.
And yes, it is a selfish decision; but I guess no more selfish than if I stayed home and hunkered down, refused to answer to door to anyone, refused to help neighbours because they might be infected, refused to share my resources because this would increase the risk to my family.

You see the problem? You stand to catch the virus from your dearest relative/best friend/neighbour if he/she is infected.

And what if all the emergency services personnel took the same view and abandoned their posts? I don't just mean the people who man police/ambulance/stations and hospital wards.
Think about all the people we rely upon to keep our way of life happening: the people at power/water/communications/a whole range of supply utilities. The list goes on and on...

The average Australian/American suburban family is awfully dependent on a lot of people not being sick, and turning up for work.

What happens if these people go bush, or are so struck down that your power/water goes down at your home?

These are the ethical issues which trouble me.

Going bush is a way of 'cutting and running' if you like; out there I won't have to make decisions between my immediate family's health and my neighbour's. I won't have to rely on the props of suburban living to survive.

I should explain also that Australia still has an awful lot of open space [ as have certain States in the U.S.] Thorough planning NOW while there is time, thinking through the issues, is what I am about.

And because my wife hasn't the same survival experience as myself these things have to be discussed with her.

Addressing some of your points Trusbx... I agree with you about the hygiene/immune issues. Water, shelter, food, hygiene... these are the basics which you have to get right.
A big factor is that our climate allows us to live outdoors comfortably all year round which makes going bush a more realistic proposition than other places.

Is it so that the virus can survive around 24 hours 'outside' the body? This is what the virologists on the programme I watched have postulated.

Cheers, PeterR