US commonwealth islands ban travellers from China over virus fears

The Northern Mariana Islands banned all travellers from China and declared a "state of significant emergency" on Thursday, as Pacific island states stepped up measures to protect against the coronavirus outbreak.

Although Chinese tourist traffic is a pillar of the economy in the US Pacific commonwealth, Northern Mariana governor Ralph Torres said the new coronavirus "poses a significant and imminent threat".

In China, where the epidemic originated, 170 have died with thousands more infected.

Although no suspected cases of the virus have been recorded in the Northern Marianas, Torres said the risk remained "substantial" due to incubation times.

"I find that the public health threat of a traveller from mainland China carrying the coronavirus is significant and cannot be understated," he said.

"The Commonwealth Ports Authority shall communicate with all airlines with travellers directly and indirectly from mainland China to suspend the arrival of travellers for the period of this emergency declaration."
"Unfortunately, by taking this measure it will have an impact on Palau's tourism. It wasn't an easy decision but a necessary one."