MP Lisa Chesters has confirmed she will not travel to Canberra for Parliament's August sitting, which has been downsized due to the worsening COVID-19 situation.

Instead Ms Chesters will represent the electorate through WebEx, going live when she gets a call from the speaker.

Ms Chesters even questioned whether similar arrangements could work in the future, saying virtual parliament made it a more family friendly workplace.

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Ms Chesters said the majority of MPs would be participating in Parliament virtually in August, whereas members streaming into 2020 sittings had mainly been Victorian.

She said there were still some limitations on virtual parliament that needed to be sorted, for instance that, members had to be present in person to participate in votes.

Ms Chesters said it was disappointing not to be present in person for Parliament, but said adopting virtual sittings showed MPs could adapt to remote work like others.

"We're in a pandemic we have to find new ways to work and Parliament is no exception," Ms Chesters said.

Parliament will go into public lockdown from Monday due to the escalating COVID-19 situation.

The number of members and senators attending sittings in person is expected to be substantially reduced, with many attending parliament remotely.

Those attending have also been requested to only bring essential staff to Canberra.

External departments and agencies have also been asked to minimise attendance of public servants, unless on essential business.

Press gallery members have also been asked to minimise the presence of staff.

ACT health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith warned last week of a "quite significant" COVID-19 risk surrounding parliament's return, particularly relating to the attendance of Sydney MPs and their staff.

The Department of Parliamentary Services is exploring how it can reduce the need for the Parliament House population to interact with the wider Canberra community, such as offering take-home meals from Parliament's kitchens.

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While the building is closed, parliamentary proceedings can still be followed through the Live Minutes and Dynamic Red, and through the Australian Parliament House website.

Parliament is set to resume on Tuesday, August 3, but the lockdown arrangements will come into effect on Monday 2 August and will remain in place until Friday, September 3.

Ms Chesters said while the virtual element of Parliament's August sitting was for the pandemic, she couldn't see why similar arrangements couldn't be in place in the future.

"It's giving our parliament options like so many other workplaces," she said.

"Virtual parliament makes a more family friendly workplace: less time away and travel time, [you're] able to do breakfast in the morning and help with some of the household work. Some families will think it's kinder.

"It gives families options and in this space, what families need are options."

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