The US has advised its citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to China and reconsider any planned visits there – and late last night, Australia did the same.
Over 100 people have died as the coronavirus outbreak continues in China. The incidence is rising rapidly, with people falling ill in Germany and Japan who have not visited China.
It has been revealed that sufferers can spread the flu-like coronavirus respiratory disease to others before they themselves know they have it. That makes it more challenging as a public health issue.
Australia and Britain had taken a more moderate course and recommended their citizens avoid travel to the central China province of Hubei. But Australia last night revised this and took a harsher stand, advising its citizens to reconsider their need to travel to any part of China. So did Britain.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) now advises:
“Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus we now advise you ‘reconsider your need to travel’ to China overall and ‘do not travel’ to Hubei Province.
“Chinese authorities have restricted travel for parts of the country and may extend these restrictions at short notice. Travellers may be quarantined, due to their health condition or previous location. If you or someone you know is in China and needs assistance, contact +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas or 1300 555 135 from within Australia.
“Follow the advice of local authorities. Contact your accommodation provider, travel agent and airline for the latest update. If you’ve travelled to Hubei Province and have developed symptoms of respiratory illness, contact your doctor.” Full advisory: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/china
On Hong Kong, DFAT advises: “The Hong Kong Government has activated its Emergency Response Level in relation to the coronavirus and reduced government services to essential and emergency services from 29 January 2020, until further notice. MTR and local transport services are still operating but some public facilities will be closed. Importantly, transport links between mainland China and Hong Kong will now be seriously impacted including reduced flights and halting or reducing train, bus and ferry services and crossing permits.
“Contact your local travel provider and monitor local government announcements. The Hong Kong Government has also advised that residents from Hubei Province and travellers who have visited Hubei Province in the past 14 days will not be permitted to enter Hong Kong until further notice,” DFAT says.
“Passengers arriving into Hong Kong may undergo temperature screening at all border control points. If you have symptoms, you may be taken to hospital for further testing. If authorities suspect you’re infected, you may need to stay in hospital or be quarantined. Talk to your doctor before travelling. The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection has set up a dedicated webpage on this issue: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html.”
The US State Department was first to increase the severity of its advice, saying Americans should “reconsider travel to China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. Some areas have increased risk”.
The American advisory says “a novel (new) coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness that began in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. This outbreak began in early December 2019 and continues to grow. Chinese health officials have reported thousands of cases throughout China. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Warning: Avoid all nonessential travel to China. Chinese authorities are imposing quarantines and restricting travel throughout the country.
“Level 4: Do not travel to Hubei province, China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China.”
Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all travel to Hubei Province due to the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak.
“If you’re in this area and able to leave, you should do so,” the British advice continues.
“The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao). The Chinese government continue to impose further restrictions on movement within China in response to the coronavirus outbreak. It may become harder over the coming weeks for those who wish to leave China to do so. If you feel that you may want to leave China soon, you should consider making plans to do so before any further restrictions may be imposed.
“Due to increasing travel restrictions and difficulty accessing medical assistance, the FCO is working to make an option available for British nationals to leave Hubei Province. This may happen quickly and with short notice. If you’re a British national in Hubei Province and need assistance, contact our 24/7 number +86 (0) 10 8529 6600 or the FCO in London on (+44) (0)207 008 1500 to register your desire to leave before 29 January at 11am local time. You will be contacted once arrangements are confirmed.”
MEANWHILE, the New South Wales government has advised parents with children who have recently returned from China to keep them from returning to school for two weeks, as a quarantine to help prevent any spread of the coronavirus. This advice, a prudent and sensible measure, has been endorsed by many other schools and universities.
The advice contradicts earlier statements made by Australia’s education minister, Dan Tehan, who surprisingly told ABC radio that children and students recently returned from China should go to school regardless, as long as they are feeling healthy.
A 21-year-old Sydney university student became the fifth person in Australia to be diagnosed with the coronavirus after flying back from the virus’s epicentre in Wuhan.
Australian health authorities are keen to keep the disease out of Australia, especially as many Australians have been facing their own respiratory challenges, breathing poor quality air for months, coughing and wheezing as bushfires raged and polluted the atmosphere.
Sydneysiders, for instance, experienced 81 days last year when air quality was rated ‘hazardous’, ‘unhealthy’ or ‘poor’ – more than the combined total for the previous 10 years. Time will eventually reveal the consequences.
Written by Peter Needham
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