Australia, US, Singapore block China visitors as coronavirus toll hits 259

Health & Leisure

Monday, 03 February 2020

Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison has announced a temporary ban on visitors who have recently been in China, although “Australian citizens, Australian residents, dependents, legal guardians or spouses” would still be allowed into the country, he said.

The US government also has imposed a temporary bar on visitors who have been in China in the past 14 days after a public health emergency was declared by the World Health Organization due to the China-originating 'new coronavirus'.

The ban does not include immediate family members of American citizens and permanent residents and where a US citizen is coming from the Hubei province of China, they will be quarantined for up to 14 days. 

Meanwhile, Singapore says anyone who has been in mainland China in the past 14 days will be barred from entry or transit. Authorities there also have stopped issuing visas to people with a Chinese passport.
The death count in China meanwhile hit 259 on Saturday, February 1.