Australia imposes self-isolate on all travelers coming from abroad

CANBERRA, March 15 (MENA) - All travelers coming into Australia will need to self-isolate for 14 days, as the Morrison government escalates its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Cruise ships will also be banned from docking in Australia for at least 30 days, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said after a meeting of the new National Cabinet on Sunday.

Morrison said the new measures - which come into effect from midnight on Sunday - would help "flatten the curve" and slow the spread of the virus.

There are now 250 cases of COVID-19 in Australia.

Deputy chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly said while the number may seem low, it was high compared to this time a week ago, with increasing community transmission.