People who have visited or transited through mainland China from Saturday will be banned from entering Australia for two weeks, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced, as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose to nearly 12,000 globally.

Australian citizens, permanent residents and members of their immediate families will be exempt from the ban but will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days from their date of departure from China, Mr Morrison said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that travellers from China will be banned from entering Australia for two weeks. Credit:AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Australians who are currently in Wuhan and have asked to be evacuated by the Australian government have been told that a Qantas flight will leave the city on February 3, and that Australian permanent residents as well as citizens will be allowed to board.

However, anyone with a temperature of 37.3 degrees celsius or above will not be allowed onto the aircraft and will be asked to seek medical assistance within Wuhan, those shortlisted for the flight have been told by the Australian government in an email.