NSW government requests precautions from parents amidst conoravirus outbreak

Students who recently traveled to China are urged to stay at home for a period of 14 days after departure from the epicentre of the virus

Children, wearing face masks, after arriving in Sydney from a flight from Wuhan, China. Source: AAP/AP/Rick Rycrof

The NSW government has issued updated advice ahead of school returning, asking for children who traveled to China recently, to abstain from school for 14 days, due to the ongoing coronavirus spread.

The 2-week timeframe has been recognised as the incubation period for the virus.

"I've been advised that it's not medically necessary, but the NSW Government has acted in line with community expectations to ensure the safest possible environment for our students," the state's Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, said.

Meanwhile, some private schools have already asked schoolchildren recently returned from China to temporarily refrain from classes.

However, Federal Education minister, Dan Tehan, told ABC radio on Tuesday morning that “individual schools make their own decisions but the advice from the Australian government is to follow our medical advice,” which states as reasonable for students returning from China and not presenting symptoms to attend school normally.

For more on this story and latest updates stay tuned for today's show 4-6 p.m.