A state of emergency has been declared and a 32-day travel ban imposed on Norfolk Island in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Key points: Norfolk Island residents, already suffering a supplies shortage, worry a travel ban will further damage the local economy

Norfolk Island residents, already suffering a supplies shortage, worry a travel ban will further damage the local economy Many are relieved, however, that action had been taken to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus

Many are relieved, however, that action had been taken to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus An administrator says that he will seek financial assistance to help those whose businesses will be affected by the ban

Locals say the travel ban, effective immediately, will see the tiny island's economy grind to a halt.

"The island is 90 per cent reliant on tourism," resident Malcolm Dowling said.

"There will be people here struggling big time.

"It's going to effect the people who cook for the tour companies, the bus drivers, the accommodation places.

"It will have a huge flow-on effect."

Norfolk Island's Administrator Eric Hutchinson says the island's health system couldn't handle a coronavirus outbreak. ( ABC Western Plains: Claudia Jambor )

Dealing with coronavirus 1,600km offshore

Norfolk Island administrator Eric Hutchinson said the ban was necessary to protect the remote island from the deadly virus.

If one of the island's 1,700 residents contracted the virus, they would need to be airlifted 1,600km to mainland Australia.

"The capacity of the health services on Norfolk are limited to such an extent, the impact of COVID-19 would be significant," Mr Hutchinson said.

"Secondly, the island's demographic is an older one, and as such many would fall into a high-risk category."

Norfolk's only health clinic is small and ill-equipped to handle a pandemic — even testing residents would present real challenges to the island's health workers.

Mr Hutchinson acknowledged that banning tourists will cripple local businesses, the majority of which are run by sole traders reliant on the tourist dollar.

"I will request a support package that is targeted as well as it can be, cognisant of the unique circumstances of this community," he said.

Norfolk Island's mayor Robin Adams says islanders were demanding a strong response to the global pandemic. ( ABC Western Plains: Jessie Davies )

'A sigh of relief'

Norfolk Island's mayor Robin Adams said multiple residents had demanded action be taken to stop the virus entering the island.

"A lot of people were saying, 'What are you doing to protect the island?'" Ms Adams said.

"Now we've acted.

"This was not an easy decision — we felt it was the only way to go."

Islander Darlene Buffett said she was relieved new arrivals would be stopped.

"It's a wonderful decision, as hard is it may have been," she said.

"A lot of people will be breathing a sigh of relief."

More than 16,000 people visited Norfolk Island in the second half of 2019. ( ABC: Nathan Morris )

Who will be allowed to travel to the island?

Passenger planes arrive on Norfolk Island from both Australia and New Zealand.

From today, residents returning home to the island will be permitted to pass through border security.

Essential service providers like healthcare workers will also be permitted entry.

All new arrivals will need to self-isolate on the island for 14 days.

Meanwhile, passengers who travel from Norfolk Island to mainland Australia will not be required to self-isolate.

But the future of air services to the island remains uncertain, and thiss Friday will be the last opportunity for islanders to fly directly to New Zealand.

Air Chatams has announced it will suspend all services to the island.

The carrier usually charters a return flight from Auckland to the island every Friday.

At this stage Air New Zealand will continue its Sydney and Brisbane connections.

Loved ones separated

For Ingrid Blyth, the travel ban means she will be separated from her three grandchildren.

Each November she travels from Auckland to Norfolk Island, but last year she postponed her trip.

"I was planning to visit them at Easter, and by then it would have been 17 months since I last saw my grandkids," Ms Blyth said.

"I'm probably going to cry from now until I get to see them.

"I'm feeling really sad about it."

Norfolk Island's supermarket is empty because no cargo ships have arrived with food or supplies since December. ( Sarah Jenkins )

Island suffering food shortage

While people on mainland Australia have been fighting over toilet paper, Norfolk Island has faced a real food shortage in recent months.

The island has not received a cargo ship delivery since December, having lost its regular, twice-monthly deliveries due to increased difficulties offloading stock at the island's ageing port facilities.

The next ship, the Southern Tiare, is due on the island on the weekend.

It's impossible for cargo ships to dock at the island's only pier. ( Supplied: Department of Infrastructure )

Locals say the shortage has already had a negative impact on the island's economy — the travel ban compounds blow.

"There are tradespeople that don't have any work because they don't have any supplies," business owner Martin Cross said.

"The next ship is fully booked with stockfeed and food.

"There's no timber coming, no roofing, no soap powder."