Having grown up in China where SARS took almost 800 lives in 2003, I remember how the pandemic traumatised my hometown, and how fear of its return cloaked Chinese communities for the following decade.

When coronavirus was first confirmed in Wuhan last December, I was on my way back to Melbourne to continue my studies. Following the updates on Twitter, I witnessed the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China exceeding the number of SARS cases. My worries about my family at home grew day by day.

Passengers wear protective masks as they walk in the arrivals area at Beijing Capital Airport. Credit:Getty Images

Therefore, I firmly support the federal government's proposal to request students returning from China’s Hubei Province to self-isolate at home for 14 days before attending schools and universities. The coronavirus has killed more than 130 people so far, and quarantine measures can prevent infection if they are delivered effectively.