Image Source: TRIBUNE

Australia will close schools and cancel sporting events in the event of an uncontained coronavirus outbreak, Minister for Health Greg Hunt said on Wednesday, as the government accelerates plans to cope with a possible pandemic.

Believed to have originated from wildlife in China's Wuhan city late last year, the flu-like disease has infected 80,000 people and killed nearly 3,000 in China.

It has jumped to about 30 countries and territories, with some three dozen deaths outside China, according to a Reuters tally.

Australia has had 23 cases of the coronavirus but has managed to head off widespread transmission.

That may change and Hunt met top state and territory officials on Tuesday to discuss plans if it does.