The prospect of being isolated in quarantine can be unsettling, particularly for international students in a foreign country like Australia.
So a Melbourne initiative is now offering them some support in what could otherwise be a lonely experience.
Student volunteers have been busy filling up care packages for some of those who are in 14 days of self-isolation due to the coronavirus scare.
They contain a few creature comforts but also some practical items, like grocery vouchers and important health information.
Gonul Serbest from Global Victoria, a government organisation which has helped organise the packs, said she hopes it will provide the students with some comfort.
"We know that it's a difficult time for them and their plans to study have been impacted. We really want to put something together, which just really shows the support that we have for our students," she said.
Many Chinese students who arrived before the federal government's travel ban have been in self-imposed isolation.
The volunteers work on the care packages. Source: SBS News
And at a time when many of them would have been preparing for their return to university, being kept away from friends and loved ones could leave them feeling anxious and lonely.
Ms Serbest said the exact number of students affected isn't yet known.
But she's hoping through this campaign they will be able to reach as many of them as they can.
"This campaign will basically go out through our social media channels and we'll try to reach out as far as possible through WeChat, our online and offshore channels as well, and so we really just want to make sure that we're here for the students," she said.
Twenty-two-year-old Monash University student Yi Su is one of those who has been confined to her campus accommodation for the past 12 days, after arriving on 1 February from her hometown of Guangzhou.
"I can still Facetime with my friends and give a call with my family so I think that's still quite good," she said.
The third-year commerce student said she's been doing whatever she can to stay busy.
Yi Su is has been confined to her campus accommodation. Source: SBS News
But she is looking forward to catching up with friends once she's out of isolation.
"When I arrived in Melbourne some friends knew I had to isolate for 14 days and they said to me if you need anything we are here for you, so that's really exciting for me so I'm really looking forward to seeing them soon."
The students won't just be provided with care packages, they will also be offered free counselling and other health support for the remainder of their time in isolation and beyond.
Monash University this week. Source: SBS News
Affected students are also encouraged to access the Study Melbourne website or WeChat page for additional information.
That information will be available in several languages, including Mandarin and Cantonese.
Richard Seet, from the Centre for Holistic Health which is also assisting students, said it's important to give people help and advice in-language.
"If they have people that can talk to them in their languages, that will help them in the communication as well as emotional support," he said.
