COVID-19 in Australia (Mar 12): health alert from Department of Health

昨天Adelaide開始使用第一個得來速採檢站，SA新增的案例目前都有國外旅遊史。
The first drive thru opened yesterday in Adelaide. Till now, all confirmed cases in SA can still trace their travel history.

今天Tom Hanks 夫妻在昆士蘭被診斷為COVID-19 陽性。
Today, Tom Hanks and his wife have been diagnosed to be COVID-19 positive in Queensland.

In Australia

As at 11:00 hrs on 12 March 2020, we have 126 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), including 3 deaths, in Australia.

• 64 in New South Wales
• 17 in Queensland
• 8 in South Australia
• 2 in Tasmania
• 18 in Victoria*
• 7 in Western Australia
• 10 associated with the Diamond Princess cruise ship

* Note: Victoria case count includes a case detected in NSW. Under the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System reporting requirements the case is considered a Victorian case.
Further details:

• 15 of the initially reported cases in Australia all had a direct or indirect travel history to Wuhan, China
• 10 cases, including 1 death, are associated with the Diamond Princess cruise ship repatriation flight from Japan
• 18 cases are reported to have had a direct or indirect travel link to Iran
• 52 cases are reported to have had a direct or indirect travel link to countries including the United States of America, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Italy, Iceland, Singapore, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Nepal, Egypt, Austria, France, Spain, Hong Kong
  • 7 of these cases are considered to be import-related
• 28 cases, including 2 deaths, do not have a reported history of overseas travel
  • 8 of these cases are associated with an aged care facility in NSW. 2 residents of this facility have sadly died
  • 2 cases are either directly or indirectly associated with attendance at a workshop
  • 18 cases are close contacts of known cases, with further details pending
• The likely place of exposure for a further 3 newly reported cases is under investigation

Of the 126 Australian cases reported, 24 of these cases are reported to have recovered.
For questions about testing or the welfare of people with the virus, contact your state or territory health authority.

What we are doing

Australia is well prepared.
Our first class health system includes mechanisms for early detection and effective management of cases and contacts. Our plans include a range of interventions to minimise transmission and mitigate the impact of the outbreak.
Australian Government agencies and state and territory governments are working together to coordinate an evidence-based response. This includes:

• applying travel restrictions to reduce the number of travellers from mainland China, Iran and the Republic of Korea. This evening a travel ban will be implemented for Italy
• applying a 14-day isolation period to people at risk of getting coronavirus
• continuing to screen travellers who arrive in Australia
• tracing coronavirus cases
• continuing with border surveillance
• providing information in English and Chinese based on the latest medical advice, including through Facebook, Twitter, Weibo, WeChat and Chinese newspapers
• applying enhanced border measures at international air and sea ports, including announcements and signs

P2 and surgical masks have been made available from the National Medical Stockpile as part of the Government’s response to COVID-19. The Government is also investigating further sources of supply for personal protective equipment, both internationally and domestically.
State and territory health authorities are:

• testing anyone who shows symptoms of the virus
• monitoring close contacts of confirmed cases every day