Coronavirus: Scramble to get home as border closes

Australia’s borders will be closed to foreign arrivals from 9pm on Friday in a dramatic move to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Scott Morrison announces the border closure in Canberra on Thursday. Picture Gary Ramage

Australia’s borders will be closed to new foreign arrivals from 9pm on Friday in a dramatic move to slow the spread of COVID-19, as hundreds of thousands of Australian travellers scramble to return home before global air travel grinds to a halt.

Scott Morrison said the unprecedented decision was “essential” to stop more coronavirus cases being imported, while acknowledging many Australians were ­already having difficulty returning from overseas.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been receiving calls from thousands of distressed Australians who were already overseas when the Prime Minister issued the nation’s first “do not travel” warning covering the ­entire globe.

Mr Morrison said the government was working with Qantas to get as many Australians home as possible, but many would have to ride out the crisis where they were.

“There are obviously limit­ations to what can be done,” he said.

“But we would hope they are safe. And they are finding themselves around the world in circumstances that all people around the world are finding themselves in.”

Mr Morrison said the border closure was needed to stem the number of imported coronavirus cases, which account for up to 80 per cent of Australia’s total number of COVID-19 infections.

“We believe it is essential now to take that further step to ensure that we now no longer will be ­allowing anyone (entry) unless they are a citizen or a resident or a direct family member,” he said.

With up to one million Australians travelling overseas each month, and another one million Australian expats living abroad, DFAT is warning travellers not to expect evacuation flights such as those arranged for Australians in Wuhan when the outbreak began.

Travellers in Peru, Bolivia and Morocco are among those already stranded because of travel restrictions and the suspension of international flights, while thousands of others are stuck on 35 inter­national cruise ships that are yet to return to port.

Others in Europe and parts of the Middle East are also having difficulties getting home following airport closures and the shutting of national borders.

Australian officials on Thursday afternoon encouraged more than 100 Australians seeking to leave Peru to contact a local charter flight company to arrange their own evacuation.

Australians in Bolivia have been told a charter flight has been organised to take people from La Paz to Brazil, where they may be able to get commercial airfares back to Australia.

Mr Morrison announced the border closure after consultation with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who implemented an identical policy. New Zealanders will still be able to travel to Australia, and Australians will be allowed entry to New Zealand. All those allowed entry will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said Wednesday’s unprecedented Level 4 travel warning had unleashed fear and confusion, and urged the government to come up with a clear strategy to get Australians home.

“The government needs a plan to help Australians stranded overseas amid flight cancellations, changing travel advice and closing borders,” Senator Wong said.

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Blue have all announced the suspension of international flights from late March. Mr Morrison said the government was in talks with Qantas “to keep flights open for a period of time so Australians can make their way back”.

The new ban on foreign entrants follows earlier entry restrictions on Chinese, Italian, Iranian and South Koreans.

A pair of Australians stranded in Peru were close to locking in a chartered plane from the US to get them and 187 other foreigners out of South America. They have launched a fundraising page to help cover the cost.

Victorian chef Emily Jennings, who was due to finish a month-long holiday on Thursday until she was forced into lockdown in the capital, Lima, said she and her best friend hoped to be flying out on the plane — which will cost nearly $300,000 — on Saturday.

She launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the substantial costs.

“We’ve spent the past 15 hours organising our own private charter, and we’re almost there,” Ms Jennings told The Australian.