25 Jan 2020 | 11:13 AM UTC
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):
25 Oct 02:33 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities to ease some COVID-19 restrictions in regional Victoria state from October 27 /update 56
21 Oct 08:54 PM UTC —
Australia: Authorities ease some entry restrictions from October 21 /update 55
19 Oct 03:06 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities ease restrictions in Victoria state October 19 /update 54
16 Oct 01:05 AM UTC —
Australia: First no-quarantine flight from New Zealand to land in Sydney on October 16 /update 53
11 Oct 05:10 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities extend state of emergency in Victoria until November 8 /update 52
28 Sep 02:26 AM UTC —
Australia: COVID-19 restrictions further eased in Melbourne from September 28 /update 51
19 Sep 09:46 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities announce easing of travel restrictions from September 25 /update 50
17 Sep 12:20 PM UTC —
Australia: Authorities ease restrictions for regional Victoria September 16 /update 49
13 Sep 05:33 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities extend states of emergency and disaster in Victoria until October 11 /update 48
06 Sep 03:11 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities extend COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne until September 28 /update 47
03 Sep 05:01 PM UTC —
Australia: Authorities extend travel ban and cruise ship restrictions until December 17 /update 46
02 Sep 08:17 AM UTC —
Australia: Victoria state authorities extend state of emergency for 6 months /update 45
18 Aug 07:38 PM UTC —
Australia: Tasmanian borders to remain closed until December 1 /update 44
16 Aug 09:19 AM UTC —
Australia: Victoria authorities extend state of emergency through September 13 /update 43
05 Aug 04:19 AM UTC —
Australia: Queensland authorities announce border closures with NSW and ACT from August 8 /update 42
04 Aug 01:24 PM UTC —
Australia: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Northern Territory) closed following protests by indigenous community on August 3 /update 41
03 Aug 11:16 AM UTC —
Australia: Nonessential businesses in Melbourne to close for six weeks from August 5 due to COVID-19 /update 40
02 Aug 05:32 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities in Victoria state declare ‘State of Disaster’ on August 2 /update 39
29 Jul 10:17 PM UTC —
Australia: South Australia closes border with Victoria July 28 /update 38
19 Jul 04:29 AM UTC —
Australia: Face masks mandatory in Melbourne from July 22 /update 37
14 Jul 05:08 AM UTC —
Australia: Government tightens COVID-19 restrictions in several states July 14 /update 36
07 Jul 10:22 AM UTC —
Australia: Government reintroduces some lockdown restrictions in Melbourne from July 8 /update 35
06 Jul 05:11 AM UTC —
Australia: Victoria-New South Wales border to close on July 7 /update 34
04 Jul 11:34 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities to reimpose COVID-19 lockdown measures in parts of Melbourne (Victoria state) July 4 /update 33
30 Jun 01:34 PM UTC —
Australia: New South Wales authorities postpone reopening of state borders June 30 /update 32
28 Jun 05:35 AM UTC —
Australia: Victoria state introduces mandatory COVID-19 testing for returning travelers June 28 /update 31
22 Jun 10:02 AM UTC —
Australia: Western Australia announces COVID-19 restrictions to end from July 18 /update 30
21 Jun 05:04 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities in Victoria state reimpose restrictions and extend state of emergency until July 19 /update 29
15 Jun 12:31 AM UTC —
Australia: NSW and Victoria announce easing of COVID-19 measures on June 14 /update 28
12 Jun 10:16 AM UTC —
Australia: Government announces further easing of lockdown measures in some areas June 12 /update 27
22 May 02:25 AM UTC —
Australia: Authorities announce easing of COVID-19 measures from June /update 26
11 May 11:02 AM UTC —
Australia: Victoria state relaxes COVID-19 restrictions from May 12 /update 25
10 May 09:03 AM UTC —
Australia: New South Wales to ease COVID-19 lockdown restrictions from May 15 /update 24
06 May 11:04 AM UTC —
Australia: Quantas Group extends international flight suspension May 5 /update 23
01 May 05:02 AM UTC —
Australia: Northern Territory to lift majority of lockdown restrictions from May 1 /update 22
28 Apr 10:26 AM UTC —
Australia: COVID-19 restrictions to ease in New South Wales May 1 /update 21
27 Apr 10:08 AM UTC —
Australia: COVID-19 restrictions eased in Western Australia and Queensland states April 27 and May 2 /update 20
16 Apr 10:13 AM UTC —
Australia: Government announces lockdown extension April 16 /update 19
15 Apr 05:46 AM UTC —
Australia: State of emergency extended in Victoria until May 11 /update 18
10 Apr 09:16 AM UTC —
Australia: Virgin Australia cancels most domestic flights April 9 /update 17
30 Mar 10:54 AM UTC —
Australia: Further domestic and international travel restrictions due to COVID-19 March 29 /update 16
23 Mar 12:00 PM UTC —
Australia: Non-essential services suspended and public spaces close March 23 /update 15
19 Mar 06:28 AM UTC —
Australia: All non-citizens banned from entering the country March 20 /update 14
18 Mar 07:51 AM UTC —
Australia: Government advises “Do Not Travel” due to COVID-19 March 18 /update 13
17 Mar 04:39 AM UTC —
Australia: Victoria declares state of emergency due to coronavirus March 16 /update 12
15 Mar 08:11 AM UTC —
Australia: Government issues more post-entry restrictions for all foreigners March 15 /update 11
14 Mar 02:25 AM UTC —
Australia: Government limits large gatherings due to COVID-19 March 16 /update 10
11 Mar 07:59 AM UTC —
Australia: Government includes Italy in entry ban March 11 /update 9
05 Mar 05:04 AM UTC —
Australia: Entry restrictions expanded to travelers from South Korea March 5 /update 8
29 Feb 08:39 AM UTC —
Australia: Entry restrictions for travelers to or from Iran due to COVID-19 February 29 /update 7
28 Feb 01:03 PM UTC —
Australia: Entry restrictions for travelers from China extended due to COVID-19 February 27 /update 6
20 Feb 11:34 AM UTC —
Australia: Qantas and Jetstar reduce flights across Asia amid fall in demand February 20 /update 5
20 Feb 07:43 AM UTC —
Australia: Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel ban extended to February 29 /update 4
13 Feb 10:46 AM UTC —
Australia: Travel restrictions extended due to COVID-19 February 13 /update 3
01 Feb 08:11 AM UTC —
Australia: Government advises against all travel to China February 1 /update 2
01 Feb 04:49 AM UTC —
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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