Alan Jones has hit back at critics who slammed him for calling coronavirus 'the health version of global warming'.

The 78-year-old radio host, who believes the threat of climate change is exaggerated, said on Monday that people are over-reacting to the virus.

The comments sparked calls by some critics for him to be sacked as they labelled him 'irresponsible' given that around 70 per cent of his listeners are over 50 and older people are most at risk from the illness.

But on Tuesday, Jones said: 'I worry about my listeners' and defended his comments.

'I was staggered to see social media posts attacking me,' he said on 2GB radio.

Under fire: Alan Jones has been criticised for calling coronavirus 'the health version of global warming'

Some labelled Jones 'irresponsible' given that around 70 per cent of his listeners are over 50 and older people are most at risk from the illness

'No one is saying you won't get the virus - that is the nature of any flu. But as the Prime Minister said, for 8 in 10 of us it will be a mild illness and it will pass.

'But what is critical is those at greater risk, older Australians and those who are more vulnerable, particularly those with pre-existing conditions… it is a far more serious virus and that is our concern.'

Speaking on 2GB on Monday morning, Jones said people's reaction to the virus has been over the top.

'Unless I'm moving in different circles, the almost universal reaction I am getting is that we have gone mad,' he said.

'And in this modern world, at the slightest provocation it seems, we revert, in spite of all the money spend on education, we revert to hysteria and alarmism.

'We now seem to be facing the health version of global warming. Exaggeration in almost everything. Certainly in description, and certainly in behaviour.'

Jones said that the majority of people who get the virus will suffer only 'mild symptoms', which is true for eight out of ten patients.

However, the virus has a 15 per cent death rate for people over 80, leading to criticism that Jones was being irresponsible by downplaying the effect of the illness.

Passengers arrive at Sydney Airport on Monday morning. They will have to go into isolation for two weeks

The virus has a 15 per cent death rate for people over 80, leading to criticism that Jones was being irresponsible by downplaying the effect of the illness

'I'm not sure downplaying a serious threat is the correct approach when many of his listeners are seniors,' wrote a Twitter user called Pepsi.

Twitter user Ian Harkin added: 'So Alan Jones is saying Coronavirus is the global warming of health. Well, I agree with him. It's a perfect analogy. They're both very real threats being downplayed by complete idiots like Alan Jones.'

Jones was broadcasting from self-isolation at his rural home in Fitzroy Falls, New South Wales after his bosses ordered staff to work from home as a precaution.

Jones' comments echoed One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson, who also said reaction to the virus has been over-blown.

Referring to teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, she said: 'Just a few months ago it was [due to] climate change that we were coming to an end, if you listened to Greta.

'If people just settled down and stopped this bogan attitude that they have in our shopping aisles - it's just ridiculous the way they are carrying on - and over the top.

'You don't need to do your panic buying.'

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 26,651 Victoria: 19,835 New South Wales: 4,166 Queensland: 1,149 Western Australia: 659 South Australia: 466 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 26,651 CURRENT ACTIVE CASES: 1,340 DEATHS: 810 Updated: 9.56 PM, 13 September, 2020 Advertisement

As the virus causes disruption to international supply chains, Senator Hanson called for Australia to become more self-sufficient and less reliant on overseas trade.

'As I said for years and years, we have relied on product coming in from overseas,' she said.

'We have destroyed our own industries and manufacturing. This is going to be a big awakening to us to now start looking at being self-reliant and start up the industries and manufacturing again. That is where the government should be looking at.'

Politicians of all stripes have expressed fears that Australia is too intertwined with its biggest trading partner, China.

Labor senator Penny Wong said Australia was too reliant upon the nation of 1.3 billion - a major buyer of iron ore, tourism and university education.

'Yes we are deeply integrated with the Chinese economy, whether tourism or commodities sectors, we are very dependent on growth in China,' she said at the AFR Business Summit last Monday.

Senator Wong called for Australia to diversify its export market.

'There's no doubt over time we want to ensure that we continue to diversify our export markets - Indonesia and India represent opportunities for that,' she said.