China returnees stay home: Australia tells students

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - Australia on Tuesday asked students who returned from China to stay home for the next two weeks fearing the possible spread of the fatal coronavirus, local media reported.

"We are asking parents to keep their children at home," ABC news quoted New South Wales (NSW) Education Minister Sarah Mitchell saying on Tuesday afternoon.

Australia has confirmed at least four cases of the coronavirus in the country.

The schoolchildren were advised to stay at home for the 14-day incubation period of the coronavirus.

China has so far recorded 106 deaths from the mystery virus with pneumonia-like symptoms. More than 4,500 people were infected.

Meanwhile, Yonhap news reported that South Korean stocks dropped to a more than 8-month low on Monday as fear of the Wuhan virus has grown over past several days.

South Korea has reported at least four cases of the virus.

The report said that South Korean won also sharply fell against the U.S. dollar.

The virus has raised alarm globally with cases reported across Asia, Europe, the U.S. and Canada.