Australia`s federal government has extended its travel ban on travelers from mainland, china. (Photo by Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Australia`s government has announced a temporary travel ban for non-aussies from mainland, china, for another week from tomorrow, amid continuing concerns about a new outbreak of the virus, the australian broadcaster and the sydney morning herald reported. Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members (restricted spouses, legal guardians, dependants) are still eligible for entry, subject to self-segregation for 14 days.
Yesterday afternoon, the Cabinet`s National Security Committee was briefed by health officials and decided to extend the 14-day travel restrictions previously announced. The current ban in response to the new outbreak was due to expire on Saturday.
The new ban is due to end on february 22nd, but will be reviewed before that.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said:" This is a matter that we keep reviewing every week and will continue to take into account all the medical evidence presented. A lot of work is going on. "
Federal government has introduced strict new border control measures, which it says are aimed at curbing the`threat intensification` of the new virus.
Australia`s Foreign Affairs and Trade Department (DFAT) has advised Australians not to travel to China and has demanded China`s returning staff be isolated for 14 days.
Morrison said in Canberra on Thursday:" We are not rushing to make this decision and are aware of the disruption and economic impact of these measures. But I have noticed that 58 countries have imposed some form of travel ban, and Australia is one of them. "
"I just want to assure all Australians that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe. "My job is to safeguard the health of the Australians," he said. There are still many unknowns about the virus. "
Morrison spoke highly of the constructive information provided by China`s government since the outbreak and said he was willing to provide assistance to China. "My message to China is sympathy and support. "
Brendan Murphy, Australia`s chief medical officer who attended the news conference, said the decision to extend the week was particularly concerning in Hubei, given the growing number of cases in China. Although growth in new cases has slowed in other chinese provinces, it is rising. "
The number of confirmed cases in Australia remains at 15, five of which have been recovered and discharged.
"All 15 cases here are associated with people from or from Hubei. "We haven`t had the disease since the travel ban was imposed," Murphy said. "
Chinese Embassy: expressing deep regret and dissatisfaction
China`s embassy in Australia immediately "deeply regretted and dissatisfied" with Australia`s government`s decision to extend its travel ban.
"Since the outbreak of the new coronary pneumonia, the Chinese side has adopted the most thorough and strict prevention and control measures, many of which have exceeded the requirements of the International Health Regulations and the recommendations of the World Health Organization, and are now achieving positive results," he said. We are confident of victory over the epidemic. "
"Only a few countries, such as Australia, have adopted such severe restrictions that they are overreacting. "We urge Australia to take an objective and rational view of China`s prevention and control work and the actual risks it faces, respect the professional recommendations of the World Health Organization and eliminate the relevant measures as soon as possible. "
At the same time, emassy "noted with appreciation that australian dignitaries and friends from all walks of life have recently expressed their support for china`s fight against the epidemic" and pledged "china will continue to strengthen its cooperation with the world health organization and countries including australia in an open and transparent manner to jointly and effectively respond to the epidemic and maintain global public health safety ".
"Australia government regardless of the death or death of foreign students"
More than 100,000 Chinese students remain outside Australia. (Photo of the University of Melbourne)
The travel ban means that more than 100,000 Chinese students have so far been unable to start their college, TAFE studies in Australia.
Lisa Liu of the University of Melbourne is one of the students currently waiting for permission to return to Australia in Beijing. She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:" I think Australia government doesn`t care about the death or death of foreign students, as long as we pay our tuition. "
"We don`t have the say after all, even if we pay four times as much for the locals and feed most of the universities. "she said.
Charles Liang, a graduate student at the University of South Australia, said the extension of the ban would expose him to a double test of education and economics. "If it continues, I won`t be able to finish my studies on time, and the house I`ve rented in Australia will cost me half a year`s rent. "
Charles, who is in Thailand, does not intend to return to Australia via a third country, insisting on waiting for the ban to end. "I don`t want to try now because my visa will be revoked. "
A number of Australian universities, including the University of Melbourne, the University of Monash and the University of New South Wales, have now announced a postponement of school opening days for students staying in China or an online video lecture to mitigate the impact of the ban on their studies.
The ban is believed to apply only to mainland, China, and Australia`s government did not include Hong Kong and Macau In particular administrative district into it.
Mr Morrison admits the travel ban has had a financial impact on businesses including tourism. "That`s why we reviewed this week after week. We are considering all the options we can adopt to reduce the impact where possible. "
Morrison: The priority is to keep the Australians safe
Morrison said the extension of the travel ban on China was intended to protect Australians from coronavirus. (Photo by Scott Morrison Social App Public)
Morrison reiterated the decision at 10:46 p.m. on its website social app after announcing an extension of restrictions on chinese passengers yesterday afternoon.
The Chinese statement stresses that the move is aimed at "protecting Australian nationals from coronavirus infection" and that "as always, our top priority is to keep Australians safe ".
He also noted that the decision was based on "medical advice from the federal chief medical officer and the chief medical officers of the states and territories," and that" the Australian Health Protection Council (AHPPC) will reassess these restrictions a week later ".
"We now declare this decision to give travelers, businesses and institutions more certainty. The continued travel restrictions mean that expats who have been to mainland in china (excluding australian permanent residents) are not allowed to enter australia for 14 days after leave china in the coming week. as before, australia citizen, permanent resident and their immediate family members (restricted spouse, legal guardian or dependant) are still eligible for entry. We continue to demand self-segregation within 14 days of returning to australia`s australia citizen, permanent residents and their families after visiting china mainland from february 1,2020. "he said.
"The AHPPC said that the coronavirus epidemic in China`s mainland has not improved in the past two weeks," it said, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would maintain its travel advice to China`s mainland at the" Do Not Go "level before a major global turn.
"Customs will also continue to implement border protection measures to screen passengers on flights and ships from China`s mainland and those who have stopped or crossed China`s mainland in the past 14 days," he said. "
