A Chinese man who suffered a suspected fatal heart attack in Sydney was reportedly left to die on the pavement because onlookers were too scared to give CPR in case he had coronavirus.

The 60-year-old man collapsed outside a restaurant in the Chinatown district on Tuesday night, New South Wales Police claim.

Medics battled to revive him at the Masuya Suisan in Haymarket but he died at the scene at around 8.30 pm, Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported.

According to reports, NSW Police would not comment on reports in the Telegraph that bystanders refused to attempt resuscitation over fears about the virus.

More than 6,000 people have been infected by the deadly virus and 170 killed since it spread from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where 11 million remain on lockdown.

Australia has confirmed seven cases relating to people who had recently returned there from Wuhan, four in New South Wales, two in Victoria and one on Queensland.

All are stable and being treated in hospital.