MELBOURNE (REUTERS) – The Australian government said on Saturday (Feb 22) it will allow the return of some Chinese high school students who have been blocked from entering the country due coronavirus restrictions, reopening the door to a market that is key for the economy.

Thousands of Chinese students were prevented from heading to Australia after the long summer break for the start of school and university terms this month when the government imposed a travel ban for most people travelling from China.

Australian officials said the targeted easing of the ban would allow about 760 Chinese high school students – none from Hubei province, which is the epicentre of the outbreak – to apply to return.

The students would be considered on a case-by-case basis and those who were successful would be subjected to a 14-day self-imposed quarantine on arrival in Australia, officials said.

“It is incredibly important that we bring some normality back to the international student market,” Education Minister Dan Tehan told reporters. “It is a small step we are taking, it is a precautionary step.”

Tehan said the government would next week consider whether to allow the return of tertiary education students.

Chinese students made up almost 40 per cent of the international higher education population in Australia in 2018, according to the most recent official data. That broader population has grown by more than 10 per cent over each of the past three years, contributing more than A$30 billion (S$29 billion) to the domestic economy.

Australia introduced its travel restrictions on all foreign nationals who had been in China within two weeks of planned travel to Australia from entering the country. Australian nationals and permanent residents were exempted from the ban, which has been extended twice and remains in place until Feb 29.

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