Coronavirus: Beijing urges Australia to ease travel ban on China travellers

Canberra’s move is inconsistent with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation, the Chinese ambassador said

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said officials would be guided by advice from medical experts

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In this January 22, 2020, photo, tourists gather to have their photos taken with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as a backdrop in Sydney, Australia. Photo: AP

Published: 2:15pm, 17 Feb 2020Updated: 2:14pm, 17 Feb 2020

Canberra should lift its ban on the arrival of foreign nationals from mainland China, the Chinese ambassador to Australia said on Monday.

Since February 1, Australia has prevented anyone but citizens and permanent residents from entering the country directly from mainland China, citing a need to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The number of cases in Australia has held steady at 15, said ambassador Cheng Jingye, and the restrictions should be eased when Canberra next reviews the policy before February 22.

“We have expressed our strong wish and hope that the Australian government in their review will take a balanced approach and remove those harsh restrictions. At the very least they should relax them,” Cheng told Sky News Australia. “It is inconsistent with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.”

The ban on travellers arriving from mainland China was to have ended on February 15 but was extended for another week, with any further extensions to be decided on a week-to-week basis, Morrison has said.