The senior lecturer in biomedical science at the school of community health at Albury's Charles Sturt University has a pretty hectic schedule delivering online learning to students and adhering to strict social distancing regulations.

But she is also watching with keen, scientific interest the way Australia and the world tackles COVID-19.

Just quietly, it's fair to say Lou is pretty curious about the coronavirus.

She, more than most, understands the complex workings of an unwieldy enemy marching across the globe and wreaking havoc on health systems, economies and human lives.

Her credentials are impressive and she's pretty familiar with the fallout from pandemics.

Lou spent 18 years studying and working in the field of HIV/AIDS at Sydney's St Vincent's Hopital and she holds a doctorate in HIV associated dementia.

She finds viruses "a very interesting field of study".

"I love reading about it from a purely viral perspective," she admits.

It's for this reason we ask Lou her thoughts on the current crisis - the similarities, differences and any take-home tips.

She firstly points out HIV belongs to a different family than COVID-19, with vastly different replication and transmission rates (HIV, for example, is spread via bodily fluids while COVID-19 can be transmitted by respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces).

Lou says not enough is known about this virus - and that makes the going tougher as we wade through the quagmire.

"We are right in the middle of this pandemic," she says.

"It's all moving so quickly.

"We don't know much about the virus and it will take time to understand it and to develop a vaccine."

From potential animal reservoirs - bats and pangolins have been put forward as culprits - to how long it lasts on surfaces, the data is variable and our knowledge is limited, according to Lou.

What we do know - and make no mistake - is this virus is highly infectious.

Lou reels off figures relating to the replication rates and I have to admit I get a bit lost in the scientific terminology.

What I do get is this is far more dangerous than the flu, SARS or MERS.

It's devastatingly deadly - particularly for the vulnerable in our population.

"It's terribly concerning for our elderly and immuno-suppressed," Lou says.

"It's a really dangerous message for anyone to say this is like a cold or flu.

"You only have to look at Italy and Spain and the number of people who have died.

"And now we also need to think about what's going to happen here in Australia when we throw flu into the mix (with the onslaught of winter)."

From her own work in the field, Lou knows the risk when a person becomes "co-infected" - so, for example if someone with HIV contracts tuberculosis their illness becomes far worse.

"It would be interesting to see what co-infection with the flu and COVID-19 looks like," she muses.

The first of Lou's take home messages is get a flu shot this year - "even if you wouldn't normally".

She's also got some pretty firm opinions on personal protective equipment (or PPEs).

"Working with HIV we had to wear a lot of personal protective equipment," she says.

"So I think that's another take-home message to all those people hoarding masks.

"Leave them for the poor nurses and doctors - they need it!"

The logic is hard to argue with.

"The higher the viral load, the increased chance of infection," Lou states.

"Front-line workers being exposed to high doses are most at risk."

Overall, Lou believes most people "are doing the right thing" when it comes to social distancing.

"We could do a little bit better," she says ahead of the Easter break when police will ramp up enforcement action.

Her take-home message on that front is simple - stay home.

"All viruses need a host - if we reduce the number of hosts by staying at home we will have an effect on transmission," Lou says.

"Viruses love company - it will move from person to person if the population allows it to."

Staying home is the best defence against this enemy, according to Lou.

"Flattening the curve takes time and is necessary to prevent our health care system being overwhelmed," she says.

"We have a fantastic medical system at Albury but we don't have the same capacity to ventilate as the cities.

"We have to practise social distancing to protect ourselves from the virus."

Lou is pragmatic about government measures to stop its spread.

"As a scientist I'd say they should have shut borders straight away in terms of eradicating the virus," she says.

"All we can do now is bring in staggered measures to flatten the curve and ensure we don't overwhelm the medical system.

"And while I sympathise with schooling as an issue, if we are trying to reduce transmission I think schools should have been closed."

Closer to home Lou is doing her bit - handwashing with soap is number one on the list of her daily routines.

"I don't expect we will get back to teaching students next term," she says.

"I'd hope we would have a kinder world at the end of this ... but who knows."