Australians abroad have been urged to return home as soon as possible due to the coronavirus, as countries issue travel bans.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has recommended Australians abroad return home as soon as possible via commercial flights.

“We now advise all Australians to reconsider your need for overseas travel at this time,” DFAT said in a statement.

“If you’re already overseas and wish to return to Australia, we recommend you do so as soon as possible by commercial means.”

All returning Australians will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

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National carrier Qantas has grounded 150 planes and slashed capacity by 90 per cent, a day after Australian shares suffered their worst fall on record while federal and state governments scrambled to devise financial stimulus measures.

There are now 450 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Australia – 210 in NSW, 94 in Victoria, 78 in Queensland, 30 in South Australia, 28 in Western Australia, seven in Tasmania, two in the Australian Capital Territory and one in the Northern Territory.

Five people have died – one in WA, three in NSW and one in Queensland.

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