coronavirus: Australia joins growing list of nations to ban all foreign visitors.

In an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia on Thursday barred all foreign citizens and nonresidents from entering the country, becoming the newest world leader to enact a wide-sweeping travel ban since the pandemic was declared.

The ban will become beginning on Friday and follows similar orders in Canada and New Zealand.

Mr. Morrison said he had consulted with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of latest Zealand about the ban said it had been “essential to require that further step so as to limit the spread of the coronavirus.”

“We have already seen a really significant reduction within the visit Australia by noncitizens and residents,” he added, citing the very fact that 80 percent of cases within the country are linked to overseas travel.

Australia has recorded 568 cases and 6 deaths, a figure that reflects the country’s still-limited testing protocols, experts said.

Australian citizens and residents are still ready to enter the country from abroad, but must quarantine themselves for 14 days upon returning.