More evacuees from the cruise ship that has experienced the largest outbreak of coronavirus outside China could be diagnosed with the disease, officials say.
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Two Australians who had been evacuated from the ship were diagnosed with the virus on Friday, and authorities say they are prepared for more cases.
A 78-year-old man from Western Australia was set to be transferred to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth on Friday. His wife was scheduled to travel with him but then be isolated at home for two weeks.
The other patient is a 24-year-old woman from South Australia, who will be transferred to Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The patients would be transferred through specially chartered medevac flights, not on commercial flights.
"They are clinically in good condition," Chief Health Officer Brendan Murphy said.
It's possible that more people could develop positive tests over the next few days.
- Professor Brendan Murphy
"I should be very clear that because we always knew there was a risk that people might be incubating the virus very strong protection was taken during the flight."
About 180 Australians were evacuated from the Diamond Princess on Wednesday, and Professor Murphy said six of those among the evacuees had mild symptoms and were tested for the disease.
Four have tested negative, leaving the two who have contracted the virus.
Professor Murphy said he was confident that stringent protections had been taken during the flight, including keeping the passengers with symptoms away from those who had symptoms.
He didn't rule out more cases being found among the evacuees.
"Because of what's been happening over the last week in Japan on the cruise ship, it's possible that more people could develop positive tests over the next few days."
Some 634 people from the ship have been infected.
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He assured locals that these cases were the first new cases in Australia for some time and authorities were well-placed to manage them.
The two new cases take the total number in Australia to 17. Of those, 10 people have recovered.
Some 170 Australians, most aged in their 60s and 70s, will be quarantined for two weeks after leaving the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama.
Meanwhile, Australia has extended its ban on foreign travellers from China for another week as the number of infections and deaths in the coronavirus epicentre of Hubei province grow.
The government is reportedly considering easing the ban for students.
Professor Murphy said it was up to the government to consider the risks and benefits of doing so.
"At the moment our advice is that it should be maintained and reviewed in the next seven days," he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ruled out compensation to tourism operators and universities hit by the travel ban.
"Coronavirus' impact is right across the country."
"The taxpayer ... is not an insurer for these things," he said.
Globally more than 76,000 people have been infected with the disease. Just over 75,000 of the cases have been in China, where 2236 people have died.
- With AAP