Four tested for coronavirus in South Australia as first detection confirmed in Victoria
Four people in South Australia are being tested for the deadly coronavirus as four cases in Australia are confirmed.
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Four South Australians are being tested for the deadly coronavirus.
The outbreak started in China, where dozens of people have died and 36 million people are now in lockdown. Four cases have now been confirmed in Australia – one in Victoria and three in New South Wales.
The state Health Department is managing four cases but Communicable Disease Control Branch director Louise Flood said the likelihood the patients are actually infected was “low”.
Definitive results may not be available for several days.
“This afternoon SA public health clinicians, department officials and the Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade took part in a national teleconference with Commonwealth and state ministers and officials on the novel coronavirus response,” she said.
“For precaution, four people in South Australia are being tested for coronavirus – but the likelihood they have the condition is low.
“All required information on any SA links to confirmed interstate cases of coronavirus will be provided to SA Health to ensure immediate follow up and any further public health measures.
“We continue to work closely with the Commonwealth Department of Health and Health Departments in all jurisdictions to maintain a close watch on the situation.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned of a “grave situation” as he said the killer coronavirus was “accelerating its speed”.
Mr Xi held a special government meeting to discuss the spread of the virus that has killed 41 people and infected more than 1300 globally.
Wuhan, the centre of the outbreak of the new coronavirus, will build a second dedicated hospital to treat patients.
China cut off trains, planes and other links to Wuhan on Wednesday, as well as public transportation within the city, and has steadily expanded a lockdown to 16 surrounding cities with a combined population of more than 50 million.
The outbreak has put a dampener on Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations around the world.