Prime Minister Scott Morrison says a ban on non-citizens who have visited mainland China will have an economic cost but the aim is to protect all Australians. Credit:AAP Mr Morrison said the decision followed advice from the nation's chief medical officers, who were concerned about changes in the coronavirus, and that the government would immediate tighten boarder restrictions for those travelling from mainland China. People who were in the air when the new restrictions were announced will be vetted by officials on their arrival but could be forced to return to China. Enhanced screening systems will be in place at the nation's airports from Sunday. Australian citizens, permanent residents, their immediate family and air crews will be allowed back into the country but will be required self-isolate for 14 days after their return. The Prime Minister, who said there was an escalating threat from the virus, admitted the move would have a cost but said the government was focused on protecting the health of Australians.

"When it comes to the health and welfare, then that comes first," he said. Loading "We could expect that to have an impact obviously on tourist arrivals for obvious reasons and the broader economic impacts of that. That is not our first concern at the moment but we are very mindful of it." The restrictions do not apply to people who have come from Hong Kong or Macau. The government is also looking at the crews of ships who ply goods and resources between Australia and China. In the past year, China received more than $80 billion worth of Australian iron ore with some of that delivered to ports hundreds of kilometres inland.

Although most of these journeys take more than 14 days, there are concerns about possible transmission of the virus. China accounts for a third of Australia's goods exports. It is also the biggest source of foreign tourists and students. It comes following confirmation of three more cases of coronavirus in Australia. A Melbourne woman in her 20s who flew from China last weekend and a couple aged in their 60s in South Australia were revealed by health authorities to have the disease. All three had been in Wuhan. Late on Saturday, Australians shortlisted for the evacuation flight out of Wuhan received a letter confirming the plane will leave on February 3, subject to approval from China, and all permanent Australian residents will be allowed to board the flight as long as they are on the manifest.

More than 100,000 tourists from China arrive in Australia monthly while February also brings the return of tens of thousands of Chinese students to the nation's schools and universities. Education Minister Dan Tehan will work with the university sector to look at ways to reduce disruptions for students. This may include delaying the start of courses and orientation weeks or the provision of more work online. Monash University in Melbourne has already delayed classes for a week and cancelled hundreds of exams. Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said the sector would seek to increase flexibility to students affected by the ban.

"Our universities will continue to adhere meticulously to the advice of health and immigration authorities, while managing the impact for our students," she said. The ban will remain in place for at least the next fortnight. The move came as Qantas announced it was suspending its two direct flights between China and Australia from February 9 until March 29. It said that decision was due to entry restrictions imposed on the movement of airline crew by both Singapore and the United States. "These entry restrictions pose significant logistical challenges for rostering crew to operate mainland China services, leading to the need to temporarily suspend these flights," it said in a statement.

Qantas said the move, which does not affect its flights to Hong Kong, could be brought forward depending on passenger demand. The Morrison government's move came soon after the US announced similar restrictions on non-American citizens who have been in mainland China. The US has also urged its citizens not to visit China at this time. The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticised the US decision to increase travel alert levels. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: “Just as the WHO recommended against travel restrictions, the United States rushed to go in the opposite way. Certainly it’s not a gesture of goodwill.” Christine Zhang, director of one of the largest Chinese tour operators in Victoria, said about 30 of her customers were in the air on flights to Melbourne from China on Saturday night.