Gympie teen’s terror as coronavirus travel bans bite

A Queensland high school student who is stuck in self-isolation after visiting family in China is terrified of being sent to Christmas Island.

AS A third novel coronavirus case is today confirmed in Queensland, health authorities have moved to reassure a Gympie teenager who is believed to be in self-isolation since returning from China that she will not be sent to Christmas Island.

Evacuees from Wuhan have shared an insight into life on Christmas Island, saying it's "worse than prison".

Other Queenslands arriving home from China have told of their frustration at being forced into mandatory isolation, as coronavirus-related travel bans begin to bite.

All passengers on board China Eastern Airlines flight MU715 from Shanghai that arrived in Brisbane today now face 14 days in self-isolation under tough new Government travel restrictions.

A sign on display in the airport arrival hall on Christmas Island, Tuesday, February 4, 2020. More than 200 Australian citizens and residents were flown out of Wuhan, Hubei province in China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak and will spend 14 days in quarantine at the detention centre. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright) NO ARCHIVING

The Gympie high school student who visited family in China over the Christmas holidays is reportedly terrified she will be shipped off to Christmas Island, but the Department of Health in Brisbane has stressed that this will not happen, and that the student was doing the exact right thing by staying in self-isolation.

"(The self-isolation) is not meant to alarm people; it is just a precautionary measure," the spokeswoman said.

The Department of Education was contacted for comment yesterday and said:

The Department of Education is following the advice of the health authorities in relation to the novel coronavirus.

The current Queensland Health advice is that returned travellers who have visited China (including Hong Kong) cannot attend school, childcare or TAFE for 14 days after leaving China (including Hong Kong).

A general view of the entrance to the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre on Christmas Island, Tuesday, February 4, 2020. More than 200 Australian citizens and residents were flown out of Wuhan, Hubei province in China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak and will spend 14 days in quarantine at the detention centre. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright) NO ARCHIVING

This includes students, teachers and anyone who works or attends these facilities.

The Department will continue to take advice from Queensland Health and has provided information about the virus to schools to share with their school communities.

Information from the Department of Health can be found at: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus.

Parents and carers are encouraged to seek medical advice from their family doctor or community health centre in accordance with this advice.

Meanwhile, an eight year old boy, a Chinese national from Wuhan (Hubei Province), has been confirmed to have novel coronavirus.

The child is a member of the tour group travelling with the 44-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman confirmed with coronavirus on January 29, and January 30, 2020.

The child remains in isolation at the Gold Coast University Hospital and is currently stable.

Further information will be provided by the Chief Health Officer tomorrow.

Originally published as Gympie teen’s terror as coronavirus travel bans bite