Date published:
Audience:
General public
This statement has been archived.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), on the advice of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA), considered the changes in epidemiology of novel coronavirus in China.
AHPPC noted the increasing (but still relatively small) number of cases in provinces outside Hubei Province and the now resulting increased risk posed from travellers from all of mainland China.
AHPPC agreed on the following:
- To expand the case definition for novel coronavirus infection from 1 February 2020 to apply to people from all of mainland China.
- Recommend to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to now increase travel advisory to level 4 – do not travel to all of mainland China.
- As of today, all travellers arriving out of mainland China (not just Hubei Province) be asked to self-isolate for a period of 14 days from the time they leave mainland China.
- That to substantially reduce the volume of travellers coming from mainland China, AHHPC recommends additional border measures be implemented to deny entry to Australia to people who have left or transited through mainland China from 1 February 2020, with the exception of Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family and air crews who have been using appropriate personal protective equipment. This also applies to passengers transiting in Australia, unless they are Australian citizens, permanent residents or their immediate families.