Sydney-born schoolgirl stranded in China after coronavirus travel ban
A Sydney mum is fighting to find a way to bring her six-year-old daughter home from China after a holiday turned into a “nightmare” due to the outbreak of coronavirus. This comes as a doctor revealed what he came up against while treating the confirmed NSW victims.
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A loophole in the coronavirus travel ban has left a Sydney-born six-year-old girl trapped in China — and her parents desperately fighting to find a way to get her home.
As her friends went into Year 1 classes at their inner west Sydney school last week, Kiara was stuck inside a townhouse in the port city of Tianjin because she doesn’t qualify for the federal government’s China travel ban exemptions.
Kiara and her mother Nancy had travelled to China shortly before Christmas to spend the holiday with her grandparents.
Nancy, an engineer, had to return for work and Kiara’s grandparents planned to fly her home to Australia before school began.
However, that plan unravelled after Australia closed its borders to non-citizens or those that are not permanent residents.
The only exception is spouses, minor dependants and legal guardians — none of which apply to Kiara’s grandparents.
What was supposed to be a fun family Christmas holiday has now turned into a bureaucratic nightmare with Nancy and her husband Truclam desperately searching for a way to get their daughter home.
The couple, who have enlisted local federal Liberal MP Fiona Martin to help, have also sought legal advice after the Department of Home Affairs suggested the couple should appoint Kiara’s grandparents as her legal guardians to get around the ban.
Another option is for Kiara’s parents to fly to another country that is still accepting non-citizens and travellers from China, to be reunited with their daughter.
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However, three flights out of China the family has booked for their grandparents and daughter have already been cancelled.
Nancy, who requested her name be withheld to protect her daughter, said she believed the airlines were cancelling due to the aircraft not being full and the flight not being viable.
Now the couple is worried Kiara and her grandparents could become stranded in another country should they also introduce a ban on China.
While some airlines offered chaperone services, none were available on the flights that were operating, Nancy said.
While Tianjin is more than 1000km away from the coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan, there are at least 60 confirmed cases in the city’s hospital.
It is understood each case has been linked back to transmission in Wuhan.
As a precaution, the Chinese government has ordered residents to stay inside unless travel is a necessity.
When Nancy contacted the Department of Home Affairs, she was told her options were to make her Kiara’s grandparents her legal guardians or for her daughter to simply “stay put”.
“It has been a nightmare, because the situation keeps changing,” she said.
“She can’t fly alone and I am not sure of the legal consequences if I somehow relinquish guardianship.
“My grandparents have enough food as they had stocked up for the holidays, it’s just that she is stuck inside and is missing school. It is snowing there and she doesn’t understand why she can’t go outside. She is still cheerful. She is a very happy person and is keeping her grandparents’ sprits up.”
The family’s plight was revealed on social media after Nancy asked for advice for educational materials to help keep her daughter entertained while ensuring she does not fall behind her peers.
Her plea triggered an overwhelming response from the teaching community, parents and Kiara’s school, with suggestions on how to keep the “cheery” and “active” schoolgirl occupied.
Nancy said her grandparents were now overseeing her lessons as they waited for a solution.
A NSW Education Department spokesman said it was understood there were other students that were enrolled to attend a NSW public school still in China due to being unable to travel to Australia.
“We do not have the exact number of students impacted by the current travel ban,” he said.
“Once these students are cleared to arrive in Australia, the department will work with them and their families to safely support their attendance at school.”
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said they could only assist with Australians in Wuhan who are cleared for travel by Chinese authorities, which does not include family members who are not permanent residents of Australia.
“Children in this situation should remain with family and friends and follow the advice of local authorities,” he said.
NSW CORONAVIRUS DOCTOR SPEAKS OUT
Treating Sydney’s four confirmed coronavirus patients has been far different to the horror stories from China, where more than 600 lives have been lost.
Westmead Hospital’s Professor Ramon Z. Shaban said the quartet — a 53-year-old man, a 35-year-old man, a 21-year-old female and 43-year-old man all had symptoms of a respiratory illness similar to the flu.
“Symptoms of coronavirus include cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and shortness of breath, many of the same symptoms as patients with influenza,” Prof Shaban told The Sunday Telegraph, adding that none of the Australian patients’ conditions have deteriorated.
“Our confirmed cases have had abnormalities on their chest imaging consistent with pneumonia, but none have had respiratory distress associated with these changes.”
Three patients have now been discharged with the 43-year-old man still in hospital.
“There is no specific treatment for coronavirus. Early diagnosis and general supportive care are important, including hydration and symptom management. Currently there are no available vaccines that protect against coronaviruses,” Prof Ramon said.
He said staff had used “well-established infection prevention and control measures” with the patients treated in isolation to prevent the spread of the virus.