Coronavirus: 400 trapped Australians register with DFAT to be evacuated from China

PM set to deploy consular officials into the coronavirus-stricken Chinese city as he comes under pressure to do more to stop the virus’s spread.

Scott Morrison is moving to deploy Australian consular officials into the coronavirus-stricken Chinese city of Wuhan as he comes under pressure to do more to stop the virus’s spread.

Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick says the government needs to be open to all options including organising an RAAF globemaster from Singapore to get Australians out of Wuhan.

The Prime Minister in Orange today revealed he was talking to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about co-operation in repatriation efforts and that Australia had made significant progress with Australian authorities.

“The National Security Committee will meet again tomorrow to consider some further initiatives that are being worked up as we speak,” he said.

“I have just spoken just a few minutes ago to Prime Minister Ardern, and seeking to work closely with the New Zealand Government in supporting both their and our nationals who have been caught up in this event.

“Right now, the Australian Government, through our embassy, is looking to deploy. working with the Chinese Government. consular officials into Hubei Province, into Wuhan.

“This is essential to assist us as we then consider the further options of support that we can provide to Australian citizens who are in Wuhan and in Hubei Province more broadly.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said in Melbourne that 400 people have registered with DFAT to be evacuated from coronavirus-affected regions of China.

Senator Patrick has been critical of the government’s approach to screening passengers from China and said a range of options had to be considered to get people out.

“The government should do everything and if the situation gets to that level, they should consider calling in the Royal Australian Air Force,” he said.

“It could be a charter flight but it could be something like a globemaster jet stationed out of Singapore sent there.

“If organising chartered flights is a problem, something like a globemaster may be a solution.”

Senator Patrick said the government should also consider limiting the number of destinations and points of origins between China and Australia to airports where intensive screening can be done.

“There absolutely has been a she’ll be right approach … the government could improve relatively simple things with screenings,” he said.

“Screenings could be done in China.

“And if things get there, and I’m not saying they will, we could limit Chinese flights to Sydney and Melbourne which have the capacity for more intensive screening.”

“Significant progress has been made overnight and we are exploring all options with the Chinese authorities both to ensure that there is support and care for Australians on the ground and that there is a pathway to returning them home,” Mr Hunt said on Tuesday morning.

“I want to thank the embassy and the Chinese authorities and we will continue to ensure that we have strong broader protection, the highest quality medical care in the world and action to protect and secure those Australians who are in Hubei Province in China.

“The advice from the Foreign Minister before coming here was approximately 400 calls have been received in terms of registration.

“They are being cross checked to ensure there is no double counting because sometimes you will have understandably multiple family members report the same person so they are going through that process, but at this stage, approximately 400 registrations have been placed with Foreign Affairs.”

In an email sent this morning Carey Grammar principal Jonathan Walter said there were Carey families stuck in China due to travel restrictions “and our thoughts are with them at this time”.

Scott Morrison convened an urgent national security committee meeting on Monday afternoon to review Australia’s response to coronavirus, which includes having biosecurity officials meet every incoming flight from China and providing passengers with information sheets, asking them to identify themselves if they are unwell.

It comes as the US Department of State confirmed it had arranged to charter a flight from Wuhan on Wednesday to evacuate US government personnel.

“As space is available, seating will be offered to US citizens on a reimbursable basis to leave from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to Ontario, California,” a state department spokesman said.

“All travellers will be screened for symptoms at the airport prior to departure. Priority will be given to vulnerable individuals at higher risk from coronavirus: small adults and persons with other health conditions that put them at greater risk. If such individuals are accompanied by family members who are not at greater risk, the families should be allowed to travel together.”

Japan and France have also indicated they will fly citizens out of the city.

The World Health Organisation has not yet officially declared the coronavirus a pandemic, thought it has been labelled “pandemic potential.”

In NSW, there are four confirmed cases including a 21-year-old Sydney university student who was diagnosed after flying back from the virus epicentre in Wuhan, China, and three men — aged 35, 43 and 53 — who are being treated at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital.

The UNSW student displayed no symptoms upon landing in Sydney on China Eastern flight MU749 on Thursday but 24 hours later began exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Another eight persons in NSW are being tested for the virus, NSW Health said on Tuesday, up from five on Monday.

In Victoria, a man in his 50s in Victoria is being treated at Monash Medical Centre.