Australian govt issues China traveller ban
>>CANBERRA: The Australian government yesterday said it would bar non-citizens arriving from mainland China from entering the country under new measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said only “Australian citizens, Australian residents, dependents, legal guardians or spouses” would be permitted into the country from mainland China from yesterday.
“The arrangements are being put in place through our border authorities to ensure that that can be actioned,” he added.
Border control authorities would be able to “step up” processes in the next 24 hours to screen those who had departed or transited through China, Mr Morrison said.
Exceptions will be made for airline crew “using appropriate personal protective equipment”.
“We’re in fact operating with an abundance of caution in these circumstances. So Australians can go about their daily lives with confidence,” Mr Morrison told reporters.
“We’re acting here in advance of many countries in terms of when similar types of arrangements are being put in place.”
The requirement of people arriving in Australia from Hubei province to “self-isolate” for 14 days was expanded from yesterday to include anyone travelling from mainland China.
Australia’s foreign ministry also updated its travel advice for mainland China to “do not travel”.
The ministry said the temporary measures do not apply to Hong Kong, and that they will be reviewed in two weeks.
Meanwhile, Central American governments have also imposed travel restrictions to try to keep out the coronavirus, including barring travellers who have recently visited China, officials said on Friday.
Guatemala and El Salvador have announced blanket restrictions on people who have recently been in China. Costa Rican officials said they will monitor transit points such as airports, but for now, will allow Chinese travellers to enter the country.
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said his country’s ban applies to those who have been to China in the last 15 days.
“The purpose is to shield Guatemala from coronavirus,” he told reporters after visiting a public hospital.
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador had announced a similar ban on Thursday night, describing it as a “prudent” but unspecified amount of time.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, meanwhile, told reporters that his government would soon make an announcement aimed at “effective management of this situation”.