COVID-19 in Australia (Mar 13): health alert from Department of Health

今日SA 四位新增的患者，其中一位是高中生，一位是有國內旅行史的女性。因此今天公布了學校相關的處理方式，學校也寄來星期一開始暫停500人以上的聚會。 (不過，看起來週末的Fringe照常舉辦。)

There are 4 new cases in SA. One of them is high school student. Another one is women with interstate history. University sent email about stop events larger than 500 people from Monday. (The Fringe Close ceremony on Sunday will still go on.)

In Australia

As at 11:00 hrs on 13 March 2020, there were 156 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), including 3 deaths, in Australia.

• 1 in Australian Capital Territory
• 77 in New South Wales
• 24 in Queensland
• 11 in South Australia
• 3 in Tasmania
• 23 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
• 70 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
• 29 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
  • 19 cases are close contacts of known cases, with further details pending
• The likely place of exposure for a further 14 newly reported cases is under investigation

Of the 156 Australian cases reported, 26 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