Coronavirus clinics opened at Flinders Medical Centre and Lyell McEwin Hospital to test patients
SA Health’s Chief Public Health Officer has urged any recent travellers with symptoms of illness to get tested, not just those who visited higher-risk countries. More coronavirus testing clinics have opened at hospitals in Adelaide’s north and south.
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Any international travellers feeling ill since returning to South Australia in the past fortnight have been urged for the first time to get tested for coronavirus, as more dedicated clinics open.
In a heightened response to the mounting global crisis, new virus operations launched on Monday at Flinders Medical Centre in the southern suburbs, and Lyell McEwin Hospital in the north.
As SA Health battles to contain the potentially deadly illness, authorities said the hospital clinics, in which staff will wear special protection, were vital to reduce mounting risk and allow patients to bypass strained emergency departments.
The Advertiser revealed on Sunday that nearly 100 people have been tested at a special coronavirus clinic since it opened at the Royal Adelaide Hospital last Wednesday.
SA Health Chief Public Health Officer Associate Professor Nicola Spurrier urged people to remain calm and act responsibly at public events or if they are ill.
She expanded her advice to international travellers, especially those who have visited North America or Britain. But the “worried well” without symptoms were asked not to clog up facilities.
In other developments:
AFL clubs will meet league chiefs on Tuesday to be briefed on the prospect of disruption to the season.
PREMIER Steven Marshall will postpone planned travel to the United States on an important trade mission because of the virus.
THE State Government prepared to unveil more new measures to combat the virus after launching a new Marion priority clinic.
THE nation’s infectious disease experts prepared for a possible shut down of mass public gatherings and other “social distancing” measures.
HEALTH officials in NSW rushed to trace contacts of a third Australian Defence Force member with the virus.
THE ADF ordered all workers to stay at home and get tested for COVID-19 if they have any flu-like symptoms.
AUTHORITIES consider broader testing for health care workers regardless of travel.
AT least two Sydney schools shut down amid a “cluster” outbreak in the north.
BRITISH comedian Russell Brand cancelled his sold out Perth Concert Hall gig after a venue visitor contracted the virus.
The number of verified cases in SA remains at seven, among 92 across the country.
At least three people have died in Australia. The four most recent patients who have tested positive in SA, composer Brett Dean, 58, and a country-based woman, 24, were last night in a stable condition in a RAH isolation ward.
A mother, 40, and her eight-month-old son are also stable in isolation at FMC. SA Health officials are urgently investigating their backgrounds. The three previous SA victims, including two doctors from the virus’s epicentre, Wuhan, have all recovered. A further eight high-risk patients were last night under investigation and awaiting testing.
SA Health’s Chief Public Health Officer, Associate Professor Nicola Spurrier urged any recent ill traveller with respiratory-type symptoms such as a cough or fever to get tested – not just those having visited high-risk countries such as China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. “We are also concerned … that there are people who have travelled back from the US or the UK and other countries who have developed symptoms and who have tested positive … in Australia,” she said.
“I would like to say to people … if you have had any recent overseas travel and have developed new respiratory symptoms … we would like to have you tested. Those of you who are, as I say the ‘worried well’ are also very welcome to get information but please we are requesting that you don’t come to these specific clinics because these are … for people who need to have testing done.”