Prime Minister Scott Morrison also said he was “baffled” by some reports the World Health Organisation (WHO) was in favour of reopening wet markets, which are common throughout much of Asia and often offer fresh food, traditional meats and wildlife in close proximity.

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“On the issue of wet markets, I find it baffling. I just don’t get it,” Mr Morrison said. “We want to be able to protect the world’s health from these sorts of incubators of viruses.”

But a WHO special envoy on the coronavirus said on Monday that it wanted “dangerous” wet markets shut down. Others have called only for the wildlife portion of the markets to be closed.

Mr Morrison also raised more general concerns about the WHO, which does not count Taiwan as a member despite it having run an effective response to the coronavirus. He said Australia had gone to a pandemic response before the WHO.

“Thankfully we weren’t relying on them in terms of how Australia responded,” Mr Morrison said. “That highlights some issues I imagine need to be addressed there.”