20 Feb 2020 | 07:43 AM UTC

Australia: Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel ban extended to February 29 /update 4

Australian authorities extend travel restrictions to at least February 29, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak; confirm entry requirements

TIMEFRAME expected from 2/20/2020, 12:00 AM until 3/29/2020, 11:59 PM (Australia/Melbourne). COUNTRY/REGION Australia

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

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

25 Jan 11:13 AM UTC —

Australia: First cases of 2019-nCoV confirmed January 25

Event

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday, February 20, that the current travel restrictions on foreigners from mainland China due to the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will be extended to Saturday, February 29. Travelers from or transiting through China will continue to be restricted from entering Australia, except for returning Australian nationals and permanent residents. However, Australian nationals and permanent residents will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. The measures will continue to be reviewed every week.

Qantas Airlines flights between Sydney and mainland China also remain suspended as of Thursday. Direct flights from Sydney to Beijing and Shanghai are not expected to resume until at least March 29. However, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taipei remain exempt from government travel restrictions.

As of February 20, there are 15 confirmed cases in Australia. Further international spread of COVID-19 is expected in the coming days and weeks.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in 30 countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On February 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 outbreak is a "very grave threat."

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

Potentially impacted travelers are advised to monitor the situation, confirm travel itineraries, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.

To reduce the general risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide the following measures:

Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue - throw tissue away immediately and wash hands
If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider
Adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments

In the case that symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness emerge either during or after travel, travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. Travelers returning from China who develop symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to avoid potential spread of the disease.

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