NSW authorities have confirmed the fifth Australian case of the deadly coronavirus.

The latest patient is a 21-year-old female student from The University of New South Wales who has been isolated in Westmead Hospital.

In the video above: Government scrambling to evacuate children in Wuhan epicentre

The woman arrived in Sydney from Wuhan on China Eastern flight MU749 on January 22.

In a press conference on Monday, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the woman was not ill when she arrived in Sydney.

However, she developed symptoms about 24 hours later and isolated herself.

Isolation

When the virus was confirmed, she was taken to Westmead Hospital and placed in isolation.

On Monday, a UNSW spokesperson said the student had not attended any classes at university and stayed on her own in campus accommodation, with no close contact, before she was admitted to hospital.

“The health and safety of all students and staff is UNSW’s highest priority,” the spokesperson said.

“UNSW will continue to review and monitor the situation and update students and staff as new information becomes available.

“The University is working with NSW Health to continually update students and staff as the coronavirus situation evolves.”

Coronavirus in Australia

Four patients in NSW and one in Victoria have now been diagnosed with the virus after an outbreak centred in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Health Minister Greg Hunt on Monday said about 100 young Australians are situated in Wuhan, which has been locked down by Chinese authorities.

The Australian government is working to extract those children from the city.

For more on 7NEWS.com.au

But Mr Hunt said the government would not yet move to suspend flights from China, nor screen every passenger on board.

“Every flight is being met by officials, and officials I’m advised, will be boarding the flights and ensuring each individual who has travelled on those flights is directly receiving information,” Mr Hunt told the ABC.

“We continue to follow the advice that’s being updated every day.”

The patients

As well as the latest case, three men - aged 35, 43, and 53 - are being treated in a Sydney hospital for coronavirus but are listed as stable.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Sunday he was pleased with their progress.

BEIJING, CHINA - JANUARY 26: A health worker checks the temperature of a man entering the subway on January 26, 2020 in Beijing, China. Credit: Betsy Joles / Getty Images

Authorities have spoken to all but two people who have been in close contact with the three men since they arrived from China.

In Victoria, a man in his 50s is being treated at Monash Medical Centre while four of his family members are being quarantined at home.

National outreach

Australian chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said on Monday he had sent a letter to every GP in Australia, asking them to consider any recent arrival with flu-like symptoms a potential coronavirus case.

“They will probably turn out to be negative, but they should be treated that way, isolated and then referred to the nearest emergency department with calling ahead,” Dr Murphy told ABC TV.

26 January 2020, Berlin: Posters at Tegel Airport point out the danger of the coronavirus. The posters are in German, English and Chinese. Credit: picture alliance / dpa/picture alliance via Getty I

The latest numbers

More than 2000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide, most of which in China, while more than 80 people have died.

China’s National Health Commission says the incubation period for the virus can range from one to 14 days, during which infection can occur.

WUHAN, CHINA - JANUARY 25: Dozens of diggers work to build a new hospital in Wuhan, China on January 25, 2020. Credit: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

“Public health follow-up of this probable case is being undertaken in accordance with the national guidelines and the patient remains in isolation,” NSW Health said in a statement.

Four patients in NSW and one in Victoria have already been diagnosed with the virus after an outbreak centred in the Chinese city of Wuhan which has spread across the world.

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