Australia activates emergency response and extends travel ban

Australia activated an emergency response plan to the global coronavirus epidemic on Thursday, the country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in a press conference.

Morrison also announced to extend the country's coronavirus travel ban to March 7. The ban means that foreign nationals who have been to the Chinese mainland are not allowed to enter Australia for 14 days from the time they left China. 

A total of 23 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Australia so far.