Australia: First cases of 2019-nCoV confirmed January 25

First cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) confirmed in Australia January 25; further spread of the virus is possible
Read all related news alert(s):
Australia: New South Wales reopens border with Victoria from November 22 /update 60
Authorities order six-day lockdown in South Australia November 18
Australia: Authorities to ease COVID-19 restrictions in Western Australia from November 14 /update 58
Australia: Authorities to ease restrictions in Melbourne from October 27 /update 57
Australia: Authorities to ease some COVID-19 restrictions in regional Victoria state from October 27 /update 56
Australia: Authorities ease some entry restrictions from October 21 /update 55
Australia: Authorities ease restrictions in Victoria state October 19 /update 54
Australia: First no-quarantine flight from New Zealand to land in Sydney on October 16 /update 53
Australia: Authorities extend state of emergency in Victoria until November 8 /update 52
Australia: COVID-19 restrictions further eased in Melbourne from September 28 /update 51
Australia: Authorities announce easing of travel restrictions from September 25 /update 50
Australia: Authorities ease restrictions for regional Victoria September 16 /update 49
Australia: Authorities extend states of emergency and disaster in Victoria until October 11 /update 48
Australia: Authorities extend COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne until September 28 /update 47
Australia: Authorities extend travel ban and cruise ship restrictions until December 17 /update 46
Australia: Victoria state authorities extend state of emergency for 6 months /update 45
Australia: Tasmanian borders to remain closed until December 1 /update 44
Australia: Victoria authorities extend state of emergency through September 13 /update 43
Australia: Queensland authorities announce border closures with NSW and ACT from August 8 /update 42
Australia: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Northern Territory) closed following protests by indigenous community on August 3 /update 41
Australia: Nonessential businesses in Melbourne to close for six weeks from August 5 due to COVID-19 /update 40
Australia: Authorities in Victoria state declare ‘State of Disaster’ on August 2 /update 39
Australia: South Australia closes border with Victoria July 28 /update 38
Australia: Face masks mandatory in Melbourne from July 22 /update 37
Australia: Government tightens COVID-19 restrictions in several states July 14 /update 36
Australia: Government reintroduces some lockdown restrictions in Melbourne from July 8 /update 35
Australia: Victoria-New South Wales border to close on July 7 /update 34
Australia: Authorities to reimpose COVID-19 lockdown measures in parts of Melbourne (Victoria state) July 4 /update 33
Australia: New South Wales authorities postpone reopening of state borders June 30 /update 32
Australia: Victoria state introduces mandatory COVID-19 testing for returning travelers June 28 /update 31
Australia: Western Australia announces COVID-19 restrictions to end from July 18 /update 30
Australia: Authorities in Victoria state reimpose restrictions and extend state of emergency until July 19 /update 29
Australia: NSW and Victoria announce easing of COVID-19 measures on June 14 /update 28
Australia: Government announces further easing of lockdown measures in some areas June 12 /update 27
Australia: Authorities announce easing of COVID-19 measures from June /update 26
Australia: Victoria state relaxes COVID-19 restrictions from May 12 /update 25
Australia: New South Wales to ease COVID-19 lockdown restrictions from May 15 /update 24
Australia: Quantas Group extends international flight suspension May 5 /update 23
Australia: Northern Territory to lift majority of lockdown restrictions from May 1 /update 22
Australia: COVID-19 restrictions to ease in New South Wales May 1 /update 21
Australia: COVID-19 restrictions eased in Western Australia and Queensland states April 27 and May 2 /update 20
Australia: Government announces lockdown extension April 16 /update 19
Australia: State of emergency extended in Victoria until May 11 /update 18
Australia: Virgin Australia cancels most domestic flights April 9 /update 17
Australia: Further domestic and international travel restrictions due to COVID-19 March 29 /update 16
Australia: Non-essential services suspended and public spaces close March 23 /update 15
Australia: All non-citizens banned from entering the country March 20 /update 14
Australia: Government advises “Do Not Travel” due to COVID-19 March 18 /update 13
Australia: Victoria declares state of emergency due to coronavirus March 16 /update 12
Australia: Government issues more post-entry restrictions for all foreigners March 15 /update 11
Australia: Government limits large gatherings due to COVID-19 March 16 /update 10
Australia: Government includes Italy in entry ban March 11 /update 9
Australia: Entry restrictions expanded to travelers from South Korea March 5 /update 8
Australia: Entry restrictions for travelers to or from Iran due to COVID-19 February 29 /update 7
Australia: Entry restrictions for travelers from China extended due to COVID-19 February 27 /update 6
Australia: Qantas and Jetstar reduce flights across Asia amid fall in demand February 20 /update 5
Australia: Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel ban extended to February 29 /update 4
Australia: Travel restrictions extended due to COVID-19 February 13 /update 3
Australia: Government advises against all travel to China February 1 /update 2
Australia: Qantas suspends flights to China February 1 /update 1
Event
On the morning (local time) of Saturday, January 25, The Australian health minister announced that there were four confirmed cases of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which originated in Wuhan (Hubei province, China) in December 2019. One case has been reported in Melbourne and the other three are in New South Wales region.
On Friday, January 24, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) increased their health alert to Level 3, warning individuals to avoid all nonessential travel to Wuhan. In particular, CDC officials warned that the virus poses an increased threat to older adults with underlying health conditions.
Further spread of the illness is possible over the near term, particularly during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Context
The first case of 2019-nCOV was reported on December 31. Authorities are still investigating the primary source of the outbreak, but the first cases were connected to a seafood market in Wuhan. Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have also been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency panel in Geneva (Switzerland) on January 23 to discuss the virus, ultimately deciding that it was too early to classify the outbreak as a "public health emergency of international concern." As of January 24, cases of the virus have been confirmed in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, France, Australia and the US, and suspected cases have been reported in Mexico. Virus screening measures are being implemented at airports worldwide. Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing.
Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.
Advice
Individuals who plan to travel to or have recently returned from China, particularly Hubei province, are advised to monitor the situation and anticipate additional security checks at the airport. Individuals are advised to take precautionary measures to reduce their risk of contracting the virus:
- Avoid all contact with animals (dead or alive); avoid eating animal products that are undercooked; avoid all markets where animals are sold
- Avoid all close contact with people displaying symptoms of the disease (e.g. difficulties breathing)
- Frequently wash hands, wear a face mask
- Individuals within China developing symptoms of pneumonia are advised to seek medical attention, avoid contact with other people, and wash hands regularly
- Adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments
- Travelers returning from China developing symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to avoid spread of the disease
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