NSW Health: Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Without Medicare Can Receive Free Medical Care
NSW Health confirmed to SBS Mandarin on 25 January that those without Medicare (Australia’s universal health scheme), such as visitors on family or tourist visas and international students, will have their emergency department and public hospital inpatient costs waived if they are suspected or confirmed to be infected with coronavirus.
7:56 PM AEST
Latest update from the Victorian Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Centre: the Centre has begun contacting passengers who boarded flight CZ321 from Guangzhou to Melbourne on the 19th. The email includes two documents (in Chinese and English) containing information about COVID-19 and its associated symptoms. A reminder that the 14-day incubation period deadline falls on 2 February — if you notice any abnormalities, please contact the Communicable Disease Control Centre at 1300 651 160.
Please keep the following two documents for your reference
- 2019-nCoV Contact InformationSheet.pdf
- Simplified ChineseTranslated_Novel coronavirus contact factsheet.pdf
7:45 PM AEST
Update on NSW’s 3 confirmed cases: the three males are aged 43, 45, and 53 respectively. In NSW, a total of 18 people have been tested — 12 have been cleared and 3 are awaiting results. In Queensland, a total of 10 people have been tested — 9 have been cleared and 1 is awaiting results. In South Australia, 4 people are being tested; authorities consider the likelihood of infection to be low.
Channel 9 Latest Update (6:33 PM, 25 January 2020)
NSW has confirmed 3 cases of COVID-19, including two males aged 30 and 50, both in isolation at Westmead Hospital. Together with 1 case in Victoria (VIC), Australia now has 4 confirmed cases. Both males isolated at Westmead had travelled to China but were on different flights. / The NSW Health Minister is expected to hold a press conference shortly with further details.
Click here to read the original article
Tasmania Update (6:00 PM, 25 January 2020)
Tasmania’s First Suspected Case, Awaiting Test Results
A 30-year-old Chinese male is undergoing isolation testing at Hobart Hospital. The man travelled to Hubei and Wuhan earlier this month and his symptoms remain relatively mild. While suspicion of COVID-19 is not particularly strong, testing has been conducted as a precaution. The man first visited a GP to describe his symptoms; the GP then contacted the public health department. Dr Veitch from the public health department stated: if necessary, close contacts will be followed up; results are expected to be available by tomorrow, and in the meantime the man will remain in an isolation ward.
Click here to read the original article
Victorian Health Minister Confirms One Case in Victoria (12:04 PM, 25 January 2020)
This afternoon, the Victorian Health Minister confirmed one case of COVID-19 infection in Victoria. The patient had previously visited Wuhan and arrived in Melbourne on 19 January aboard China Southern Airlines flight CZ321 from Guangzhou. The Victorian Health Minister said the confirmed patient (“did everything right”) — they had no symptoms on the flight, stayed with relatives after arriving in Australia, and contacted a GP by phone on Thursday after developing symptoms. They wore a double mask when entering the GP clinic. The GP was unable to make a diagnosis, so they contacted Monash Medical Centre on Friday, called ahead, wore a mask before going to the emergency department, and was immediately isolated. Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said there is currently no risk to the general public, but there is a very strong likelihood that Australia will see more confirmed cases. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued its highest-level travel warning, advising against travel to Hubei.
After arriving in Australia, the man did not visit any public places — he was with family the entire time until visiting the GP on Thursday and Monash Medical Centre on Friday.
The following is the Victorian Government Announcement
To confirm: China Southern Airlines flight CZ321 from Guangzhou to Melbourne arrived at approximately 9:00 AM on the 19th.
If you were on this flight, please call the Victorian Communicable Disease Control Centre (Communicable Disease Control) at: 1300651160.
When you first call, there may be a recorded message stating that normal business hours are Monday to Friday — please do not hang up; continue listening and you will hear the key-press menu options.
For Novel Coronavirus, press 0 to speak with an operator.
After that:
Staff will confirm your flight details, including whether the flight originated from Wuhan
You will be asked whether you have developed any symptoms or feel unwell
The centre is currently awaiting consolidated seating information from the airline and will contact passengers one by one
Your personal contact details will also be recorded and you will receive a follow-up email
If you were seated near the patient, you will be closely monitored
If you are currently experiencing any symptoms, please call immediately to speak with staff and ensure you self-isolate.
Click here to read the original article
Adelaide Update
This is Simon Hou from Adelaide City Council Hospital. At 3:00 PM this afternoon, I received a call from the Chinese Consulate in Adelaide, informing me that 2 Chinese tourists are currently driving from Melbourne to Adelaide. These two tourists arrived in Melbourne from Guangzhou on 19 January — yes, on the same flight as the confirmed novel pneumonia patient in Melbourne. (Special thanks to these two responsible fellow Shanghainese.) I then urgently contacted the Health Minister and was informed of the following:
1) If you have no symptoms, you are currently under self-monitoring. You may report to the Communicable Disease Control Branch with your name, phone number, and other contact details;
2) If you begin to develop symptoms, do not go to the hospital — do not go to the hospital — do not go to the hospital. Please contact the Communicable Disease Control Branch, and a dedicated medical officer will handle your case;
3) Communicable Disease Control Branch phone: 1300 232 272; email: HealthCommunicableDiseases@sa.gov.au
