'Nobody should go around wasting facemasks': Calls for calm as coronavirus spreads to 49 nations
Seven more countries have recorded cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 49 nations around the globe that are dealing with the virus.
Today Australia implemented its Commonwealth coronavirus pandemic plan.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, after chairing a COAG meeting on the plan, said Australia's treatment of the virus has been "world leading".
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Countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus. Nine
Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said there is a "strong likelihood" Australia will have more cases of coronavirus.
"While we are preparing and we are realistic about what might come in the future weeks, we are not in a situation where anyone needs to be concerns," said Professor Murphy.
"Nobody should go around wearing and wasting facemasks please."
Professor Murphy said the "great majority" of people who contract coronavirus will have a "very, very mild disease".
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Passengers wearing masks as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 use their phones at the Sao Paulo International Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) AP/AAP
"We have accepted the very strong likelihood that we will get further cases and some further transmission of this virus in Australia given the international situation with several countries having sustained community transmission," Professor Murphy said.
"But as Minister Hunt and other ministers have said, we are prepared but we are doing more in our preparation."
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