Accused killer Matthew Spinks had been due to face trial in Wollongong next Monday over the fatal shooting of Nathan Costello outside a Unanderra home on Valentine's Day in 2018.

However, last Sunday's joint announcement by the NSW Supreme and District courts that it would temporarily suspend all new jury trials amid the coronavirus emergency means the trial will not proceed as scheduled.

The move is designed to limit "close social contact amongst jurors" in the wake of the federal government's decision to ban large gatherings and encourage people to isolate where possible.

Several criminal lawyers who spoke to the Mercury on the condition of anonymity expressed frustration at the stoppage - especially given the District Court is already fraught with delays - however reserved the bulk of their criticism for the apparent disregard for implementing similar measures in the Local Court.

One lawyer told the Mercury she wasn't looking forward to attending Wollongong courthouse on Tuesday, where there are 180 matters in the list.

She said courthouses can be cesspools of germs at the best of times, let alone with a contagious virus on the loose.

"It's quite obvious to anyone that regularly attends court that not all people who congregate around a courtroom are up to date with hygiene," the solicitor said.

"At the best of times, there are people who you would want to stand a fair distance from, however in a court environment this is virtually impossible.

"Put together a fast spreading virus, a person who may not have regard for the symptoms, and 180 people at a courthouse and you have a serious problem."

Meanwhile, another lawyer who works almost exclusively in local court crime work said there had been no protective measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

"There's no anti-bacterial wipes, no hand sanitiser, no signs about distancing," she said.

"We have to spend hours waiting in full and often over crowded court rooms.

"While the higher courts have cancelled jury trials and are arranging video links where possible, we have had nothing put in place in the Local Court - the jurisdiction that deals with the majority of defendants and which has the highest volume of practitioners in attendance.

"The risk of contamination in these conditions is, in my opinion, high."

Another lawyer said people facing charges should be excused from attending court if their cases were at a preliminary stage to reduce the risk of contamination.

A spokesperson for the Local Court confirmed hand sanitiser had been ordered at least two weeks ago but due to a backlog with suppliers was yet to arrive.