Australia to help some citizens leave China, quarantine them on Christmas Island

Sounds infinitely more sensible than letting them off the plane with instructions to self-monitor and go to a health centre if they development symptoms ( which is way too late ) as Japan is doing.

You beat me to it brother! Well said!

You see? Aus knows what it's doing. Japan, on the other hand, is just saying, "Please be vigilant, and we ask you, like your kids Always do when their classes are cancelled for the flu -- they never go hang out at McD's or go downtown with friends -- you to stay home for two weeks, please."

And I am sure the population of Christmas Island will welcome them.

Yes nandakandamanda. I am sure all 2,564 of them will be overjoyed. After many years of welcoming immigrants and refugees, I am sure a few highly infectious guests will be no problem at all. But seriously, what will they do if it does spreads? It's not like they have the medical facilities to cope!

Quarantine Station (now Museum and ghost boarding house) just inside Sydney heads held plague, Spanish Flu, other pathogen contagious people for years.

Off-shore like this suggests paranoia, Xenophobia, desperation and a publicity stunt by a government running out of ideas and originality.

Christmas Island has a family of 2 Sri Lankan’s and their 2 Australian-born kids, only in spite of accommodation for hundreds and tax payers paying for it.

I hope the Australians evacuated ‘home’ (?) have good travel insurance, because this Australian government is not the type to do all this for free.

Take note, Japanese government, your country is an island nation too. Is there any space on former leper colony islands in the Inland Sea? Or hopefully, Japanese hospitals on shore are sufficient to provide appropriate treatment? Latter I think.

Off-shore like this suggests paranoia, Xenophobia, desperation and a publicity stunt by a government running out of ideas

Brilliant description of the current Conservative Australian government!

I hope these evacuees - IF they get all the final clearances - can eventually get home without illness.

Christmas Island citizens: no thanks....

This is more and more looking like the right call. This should not be politicized

Australia puts its citizens on an island and the J government brings them back to Tokyo-go figure that...!

kurisupisu: "Australia puts its citizens on an island and the J government brings them back to Tokyo-go figure that...!"

And other nations are quarantining the people on military bases (US, England). Japan? The geniuses here decided to cut them loose in the most densely populated city in the world. It's almost like they said, "Hmmm... what's the opposite what we should do...?"

If we are talking about a possible pandemic, this is a completely rational and defensible decision.

Latest news says that some Australians are having second thoughts on leaving Wuhan after knowing that they will be quarantined on Christmas Island. They are worried that that the medical facilities on the island cannot handle an outbreak.

The geniuses here decided to cut them loose in the most densely populated city in the world. It's almost like they said, "Hmmm... what's the opposite what we should do...?"

wouldn't be the first time...

If we are talking about a possible pandemic, this is a completely rational and defensible decision.

If we are talking about the japanese gov trying to start a pandemic, this is a completely rational and defensible decision.