A baby boy has been diagnosed with coronavirus while more than a dozen children will need to be urgently tested after they visited an aged care facility where multiple residents have the virus.

The eight-month-old South Australian boy is the son of a 40-year-old Iranian woman who flew into the country from Iran earlier this week.

A 58-year-old man in Adelaide has also been diagnosed, while a woman who landed in Western Australia from the UK via Dubai has also contracted COVID-19.

Nationwide, 57 people have been confirmed to have the virus.

It comes as 17 toddlers from Banksia Cottage childcare centre in Macquarie Park, in north-west Sydney, are being urgently assessed after visiting the Dorothy Henderson Lodge for an excursion on February 24.

In recent days the aged care facility confirmed four separate cases of coronavirus - including a 95-year-old woman who died on Wednesday and a staff member.

A clinic will be set up on Thursday evening and families whose children attended the excursion will be invited to screen for coronavirus.

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Banksia Cottage childcare centre (pictured) in Sydney's north-west is just across the road from Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care complex where multiple cases of the infectious disease have been reported this week

17 toddlers from the centre are being urgently assessed after visiting the aged care complex for an excursion on February 24

Paramedics and emergency services in surgical aprons, masks and gloves arrived at the daycare on Thursday before it received the all clear

Chris Zheng said his four-year-old daughter was among those 17 children who visited the nursing home.

He admitted he was 'worried' about the danger posed by the virus and said he would be making sure his child was tested - and regardless of the outcome would consider self-quarantining.

'When I heard that children who visited (the aged care centre) could be at risk I was concerned. I thought maybe we would be unlucky and she would catch it,' he said.

I'm pretty worried... I'll keep her at home if another child [at the centre] tests positive James Kwan, whose daughter was one of 17 children to visit the nursing home

'I'm pretty worried, so I think it would be better to take the test.

'If another child [at the centre] tests positive I'll keep her at home and we will all self-quarantine. Not just for our safety but for everyone else.'

Another parent said her child wasn't on the excursion but she would get them tested anyway.

'The centre sent an email a couple of days ago saying some of the children went to the aged care home, and another this morning about the assessment [for coronavirus],' she said.

'I have no idea if my child was playing with those children.'

Other parents said they were only a little worried their children could catch it, and would monitor them for symptoms.

'I think there's a lot of hype and rumours about it that aren't correct,' one said.

Another parent said her child wasn't on the excursion but she would get them tested anyway

A woman loads her daughter into the car after taking her out of the Macquarie Park childcare centre early on Thursday. She said she was worried about her children catching the virus

A little girl waves from the window of the childcare centre while she waited for her parents to arrive

Other parents said they were only a little worried their children could catch it, and would monitor them for symptoms

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a spokesperson for Macquarie University - where the childcare centre is located - said it was operating as normal on Thursday afternoon despite the coronavirus scare.

'It has been brought to our attention that children at Macquarie University childcare centres Banksia and Gumnut recently visited the BaptistCare Aged Care facility in Macquarie Park,' the statement read.

'A small number of cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed by NSW Health at the Aged Care Facility.

'NSW Health has advised there is currently no need for either Banksia or Gumnut childcare centres to close and they will continue to operate as normal.'

Macquarie Park has been identified as the epicentre of the virus in Australia, with six of the 57 confirmed cases coming from the suburb.

There has been a spike in confirmed cases since the beginning of March, with the total number doubling from 25 to 57

There have been two confirmed deaths from the virus in Australia so far. James Kwan, 78, who was on the Diamond Princess cruise ship died in Perth last week while a 95-year-old woman died at a Sydney nursing home on Wednesday

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday confirmed more than 10,000 Australians had been tested for coronavirus since diagnosing the first case in late January.

Tens of thousands more had chosen to self isolate after returning from international trips.

A new graph illustrates how rapidly coronavirus is spreading throughout Australia, as the rest of the world braces for a global pandemic.

On Wednesday, an additional 13 cases were reported across Australia, including the first diagnosis in the Northern Territory.

Internationally, 95,180 people have been infected throughout 84 countries. Of those, at least 3,254 have died.

In response to the significant increase in local cases, the prime minister implemented a travel ban between Australia and South Korea from 9pm Thursday.

The ban means anyone who has been in Korea will have to spend 14 days in a third country before returning to Australia. It will remain in place for people flying in from China and Iran, too.

A further 20 million face masks are also in circulation to help curb the spread of the infection.

Mr Morrison said enhanced screening methods will be put in place for those arriving from Italy because of a high infection rate, but a ban will not be put in place.

This is because tourists from South Korea arrive at a rate five times higher than Italy.

Pictured: A man walking through Sydney with a face mask on amid coronavirus concerns on March 2

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews tours the Doherty Institute in Melbourne on Tuesday, March 3 as scientists conduct research on coronavirus

Crazed shoppers have continued to stock up on toilet paper at supermarkets across Australia

'Today's actions are the latest in a carefully considered plan which are being implemented as needed,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

Despite the new cases and more stringent travel warnings, Mr Morrison encouraged Australians to stay calm and continue about their daily business.

Although, the New South Wales state government has temporarily cancelled scheduled trips between childcare centres and nursing homes.

New South Wales Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said there is no indication any of the children who visited Dorothy Henderson Lodge are carrying the virus, but testing will be undertaken for 'utmost prudency'.

A staff member from the childcare centre fell sick after the visit and presented herself to her GP.

She and her partner were both tested for coronavirus overnight and were given the all clear.

Globally, people are preparing for a potential pandemic by stocking up on supplies and wearing masks in public (Pictured: people walking through New York with surgical masks)

Ms Chant reiterated that medical authorities don't yet completely understand how coronavirus - now known as COVID-19 - affects children.

WHY MACQUARIE PARK IS AUSTRALIA'S CORONAVIRUS EPICENTRE Macquarie Park in Sydney's north is a densely populated suburb with a high population of university students and Chinese nationals. More than 20 per cent of people living in Macquarie Park, 13km north-west of Sydney's CBD, have Chinese ancestry - compared to just 3.9 per cent nationally. It is home to six of the country's 53 cases of coronavirus, as the government admits it has no way of controlling the spread of the fatal respiratory disease. A staggering 70 per cent of residents have foreign-born parents, compared to just 34.4 per cent nationally. Advertisement

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell on Thursday suggested the government also has the power to shut down schools if they deem it necessary.

'If the pandemic plan comes into force and there is more action we need to take, we do have the mechanisms to be able to do that [close schools],' she said on Sky News.

'If there's a particular case that affects a certain school, then obviously the focus would be on individual schools.'

The daycare centre in question is located inside Macquarie University - the same place where a day earlier, a lecturer was struck down with the disease.

Test results came back as negative for coronavirus, and the aged-care facility told Daily Mail Australia they were taking the necessary precautions to limit the spread.

'We have taken a firm approach to ensure any staff identified as being at risk are isolated and we have taken the added precaution of confining residents to their rooms across the centre,' a spokeswoman said.

'The NSW Health Infection Control team are also working with our team on the ground to provide additional support and reduce the risk of further exposure.'

Two people have died of the illness - which is now known as COVID-19 - in Australia.

The first was 78-year-old travel agent James Kwan, from Perth. He and his wife were among 700 to be struck down with the illness on the Diamond Princess cruise.

Australians have been advised to avoid all travel to Iran (pictured, a hospital in Tehran) after more than 60 people died of coronavirus in the country

The second was a 95-year-old woman who medics believe was exposed to the disease at her nursing home in Macquarie Park after one of the staff was also diagnosed.

Australia appeared to experience a lull in the infection rate between February 6th and February 21st, before steadily increasing again until the beginning of March, when cases spiked globally.

On January 25, there were only four cases in Australia and they were confined to two states - three in New South Wales and one in Victoria.

But less than six weeks later that number has jumped to 53, and victims are spread throughout every state except the Australian Capital Territory.

As infection rates soar, people are increasingly panic-buying supplies from their local supermarkets, causing nationwide supply shortages.

Coles and Woolworths stores are reporting shortages of toilet paper, hand sanitiser and long-life goods such as pasta and tinned food.

Woolworths were even forced to introduce a radical four-packet limit on toilet paper, as well as a two per person limit on hand sanitiser, which is now being kept behind the counter along with cigarettes.

John Robertson, the CEO of Foodbank Australia, which delivers food to charities, said the organisation has increased food stock orders.

A survival expert has recommended Australians stock up on canned goods that can last for up to ten years

Passengers from a China Cruise Ship are seen arriving at Sydney Opera House with no health screen checks amid fears of the coronavirus outbreak on February 27

Supermarket shelves have been stripped bare as shoppers race to pile up on food (Pictured: Brisbane Woolworths with pasta shelves entirely empty)

'What we expect is if things escalate to the point where businesses close and people aren't being paid, people will be look for support from charities for food,' Mr Robertson told News Corp.

The charity is stocking up on soup, fruits, vegetables, pet food and baby formula and recommended people stock up on bread, wraps, pasta and pizza bases if they're considering buying additional supplies.

Dr Kean-Feng Lim, NSW president of the Australian Medical Association said medical supplies should be the primary concern, particularly panadol and ibuprofen.

'Making sure you get a good night's sleep, making sure you've got an adequate diet with preferably five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit a day, and if you can aim for three different colours you will cover a lot of vitamins and antioxidants your body needs,' Dr Lim said.

Toiletries including nappies, toilet paper, detergent, toothpaste and feminine hygiene products were also in high demand.

Chinese vegetable vendors wear protective masks as they wait for customers at a local market

SURVIVALIST'S GUIDE TO CORONAVIRUS Australian Survivalism group member Clay said people should be most concerned about ensuring they have enough tinned foods. He described items like canned tuna, tomatoes, peas and peaches as invaluable due to their long shelf life. 'Canned goods stored in the correct environment, nice and cool, out of the sun away from moisture will last for over ten years easily,' Clay said. 'What you eat normally, store it in cans.' He also suggested stocking up on rice which can be frozen to last up to thirty years. 'Peanut butter will last forever. Honey simply does not have a shelf life,' he said. Along with canned goods, the survival expert said stocking up on anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitizer was highly important. He urged Australians to buy vitamins like zinc, protein powder, mens and womens multi-vitamins and immune boosters - along with buying a P2 protective face mask. Advertisement

Other recommended items to keep in the house include matches, batteries and a torch.

The nation's chief medical officer, Professor Brandon Murphy, conceded the disease would likely penetrate Australian shores - and announced during a press conference the concern was no longer preventing the spread but delaying it.

'It is no longer possible to absolutely prevent new cases coming in, given the increasing changes in epidemiology around the country,' Prof Murphy told reporters on Monday.

In at least two of the cases, the patients had no obvious links to coronavirus and had not travelled overseas in recent months, meaning the disease is spreading within Australia.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said they are unable to track the source of the infection.

'It is concerning when we have somebody present with coronavirus and we can't track the source.'

'In this case [the aged care worker], this much-loved staff member had not travelled. She had not been overseas. She had not been to any of the hot spots around the world. So, that raises the question, how did she end up with coronavirus?'

Experts predict the number of cases is likely to soar in the coming days.

Former Reserve Bank of Australia board member Warwick McKibbin warned a global pandemic could wipe out 68 million people worldwide, including 96,000 Australians.

Even a mild pandemic could kill 21,000 Australians and 15 million globally.

Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted there was 'every indication' the world would imminently enter 'the pandemic phase of the virus'.

The virus can infect anyone, but the most at-risk population are the elderly or people with autoimmune diseases.