The Australian government has followed the US in advising its citizens to “reconsider” taking an overseas cruise as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread around the world.

“Australians, particularly those with underlying health concerns should reconsider taking an overseas cruise at this time due to COVID-19,” the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on its SmartTraveller website.

The advice comes as the government also weighs its response to Italy’s decision to declare a country-wide travel ban on 60 million residents after more than 7000 people were infected and 366 died from the infection.

“This is obviously a very significant development,” federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Tuesday.

“It just reflects the uncertainty and the seriousness of the spread of the coronavirus.”

Also on Tuesday (Australian time), Californian authorities finally allowed a cruise ship with 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus on board to dock. The Grand Princess had been idling off the coast of California for four days as authorities worked out how to get passengers ashore without spreading the potentially deadly virus.

Four Australians are among more than 2000 passengers and crew aboard the ship. Sick passengers and crew will be taken to hospitals, while those who do not require immediate care will go into quarantine.

Tweet from @Smartraveller

Italy declared its travel ban more than a month ahead of the busy Easter holiday season, when millions of international and domestic tourists usually flock to Rome and other major cities such as Venice and Florence.

The federal government continues to advise travellers to Italy to “exercise a high degree of caution” and cautions they will be subject to health screening upon their return.

Extreme caution is advised for travellers to Italy. Map: Smartraveller

Meanwhile, temporary school closures are likely to become the norm across Australia as the nation also tries to batten down the hatches.

Three schools in NSW and Victoria were shut on Tuesday after students tested positive to COVID-19.

“School closures, I think, will become the norm as we go ahead. But we are doing everything we can to keep our children safe,” federal Education Minister Dan Tehan told Nine’s Today program.

The Minister was asked why schools were being closed for a day or two, while people with or suspected of having the virus are being told to self-isolate for two weeks.

“The schools have been closed for a day so they can be thoroughly cleaned,” he said.

“That is the best medical advice that we’re being given at the moment. Now, if that changes and it says that schools need to close for longer, then schools will close for longer.”

The schools closed on Tuesday include Carey Baptist Grammar School in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Kew, St Patrick’s Marist College in Dundas in western Sydney and Willoughby Girls High School on Sydney’s north shore.

Two year 10 students from St Patrick’s Marist College and a year 7 pupil from Willoughby Girls High School were on Monday confirmed to have COVID-19.

The fathers of the St Patrick’s students and the mother of the Willoughby student had previously tested positive for the virus.

Carey Baptist Grammar has been shut after a teacher developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

Another Sydney School, Epping Boys High, reopened on Monday after closing on Friday after a year 11 boy tested positive.

Across the country, more than 80 people have been confirmed as having the virus. More than half of the cases are in NSW.

Three elderly people have died so far in Australia.

Across the world, there have been more than 110,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and more than 3817 deaths in 105 countries.

-with AAP