The first case of the deadly coronavirus has been confirmed in Queensland, and it joins the four cases in NSW and two in Victoria.

The first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Queensland as a 44-year-old Chinese national, bringing the national total to seven.

There are now four cases in NSW, two in Victoria and one in Queensland.

The state's chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said the man has been isolated in Gold Coast University Hospital.

Authorities said the man is from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus first started infecting humans.

Vulnerable Australians trapped in Wuhan due to the outbreak will be evacuated to Christmas Island.

Health Officials issued new advice on Wednesday, saying anyone who had been in Hubei province needed to isolate themselves at home for 14 days.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said people should isolate themselves even if they had come into contact with a person who had the virus, but was not displaying symptoms at the time.

"We do not currently recommend self-isolation for travellers from other parts of China or from other countries," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

Schools across Australia, as well as childcare centres and universities, were updated on the new advice.

The government announced the evacuation plan on Wednesday, saying the people flown from Wuhan would be kept on Christmas Island for two weeks.

There are now more than 6000 cases of the respiratory illness and 132 deaths, mainly in Wuhan.

There are seven confirmed cases of the virus in Australia, including four in NSW, two in Victoria and one in Queensland which was confirmed on Wednesday evening.

Chinese authorities will have to approve Australia's evacuation plan, with Qantas offering an aircraft for the joint operation to be conducted with New Zealand.

Professor Murphy said the people being evacuated from Wuhan would have to consent to staying on Christmas Island.

Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday said people had made contributions towards the cost of their evacuation flights in the past.

One million masks are being released to Australia's health networks.

A coronavirus infection reveals itself through symptoms including fever, coughing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.