Fears Donald Trump exposed to coronavirus as Italy locks down whole country
US President Donald Trump has still not been tested for coronavirus despite growing concerns as shocking video footage emerges from Italy.
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US President Donald Trump has not been tested for coronavirus despite growing concerns that he was exposed to the disease.
Five Republicans have now placed themselves in quarantine after they interacted with a man who has been diagnosed with coronavirus at a conservative conference which Mr Trump attended 10 days ago.
They include Mr Trump’s newly announced chief of staff, Mark Meadows, another man who shook the President’s hand last Friday, and Matt Gaetz, who rode on Air Force One on Monday after spending the weekend with Mr Trump at his Florida golf resort, Mar a Lago.
Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, also self-quarantined following the same announcements from Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Paul Gosar of Arizona over the weekend.
“The President has not received COVID-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms,” White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
Ms Grisham said Mr Trump was “in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him.”
Mr Trump last night called for calm after a day of Wall Street carnage, with the Dow Jones dropping nearly 8 per cent, in its worst day since 2008.
The sell off was fuelled by the biggest oil price drop in 30 years and coronavirus concerns.
He is set to announce a “major” and “substantial” economic stimulus, possibly in the form of a “payroll tax” cut today.
It came as the White House team leading the US response revealed that the guidance for Americans about how to deal with coronavirus has been based on research provided by Australian experts.
Dr Deborah Birx, who is co-ordinating the US response, and infectious disease specialist Dr Anthony Fauci used a White House briefing to urge Americans to follow a new set of guidelines to keep themselves safe.
They said the guidelines were based on Australian research.
“All of this came from a paper that Dr Fauci provided from the Australians,” said Dr Birx.
HORROR FOOTAGE EMERGES FROM ITALY
Shocking video footage from inside an Italian hospital’s intensive care unit shows medical staff draped in protective gear from top to bottom treating patients infected with the coronavirus.
The patients are surrounded by wires and tubes and are treated by medics wearing goggles and face masks at the hospital in Cremona, northern Italy.
Italy is now only trailing China in terms of fatalities and registering dozens of new deaths a day: 9172 cases and 463 deaths (at 8.40am AEDT).
And more people have died in Cremona’s Lombardy region near Milan than have died in the rest of the Mediterranean country combined.
It comes as lockdown measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus will be extended across the whole of Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said, affecting 60 million people.
“There won’t be just a red zone,” Conte said, in announcing that a lockdown covering about 16 million people in the north would be expanded to the entire country starting Tuesday.
People should stay at home unless they have solid reasons related to work, health or other special needs, Conte said, specifying that commuting to work will still be allowed.
School and university closures have been extended until April 3.
“Our habits must change, must change now, we must all give up something for the good of Italy,” Conte said.
The government also adopted a decree to stop all sporting activities, including Serie A football matches, the prime minister said.
The Australian government is weighing its response after Italy’s declaration.
“This is obviously a very significant development,” federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.
“It just reflects the uncertainty and the seriousness of the spread of the coronavirus.”
The federal government continues to advise travellers to Italy to “exercise a high degree of caution” and cautions they will be subject to health screening upon their return.
Across Australia, more than 80 people have been confirmed as having the virus. More than half of the cases are in NSW. Three elderly people have died, so far.
Worldwide, there are over 110,000 confirmed cases of the new virus, with more than 3800 deaths attributed to it. The number of people who have recovered is about 62,000 (at 8.40am AEDT).
COVID-19 ‘MORE LIKE A BAD FLU THAN SARS’: PM
The coronavirus is moving towards being more like a “very bad flu” than SARS, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
“It has nowhere near the mortality rate that we’ve seen with SARS and MERS,” the PM said this morning.
The fatality rate was less than one per cent, he said. Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome were more than 10 times as deadly, he said.
“It’s still a very serious virus, but it is moving more towards a very bad flu than it is to a deadly type of virus like SARS and MERS,” Mr Morrison said. “It is a long way from those sorts of impacts.”
He said he expected to see market volatility settle as investors get more information, allowing them to more accurately price risk.
Asked if the world was overreacting, the PM said “well if you look at the supermarkets of Chullora you could quickly come to that conclusion.”
Two women were charged after a fight over toilet roll there earlier this week.
Mr Morrison added he treated COVID-19 as a “very serious issue” since it first emerged.
SCHOOL CLOSURES WILL BECOME THE NORM
Temporary school closures are likely to become the norm across Australia as the nation also tries to batten down the hatches.
Three schools in NSW and Victoria will be shut today after three students tested positive to COVID-19.
“School closures, I think, will become the norm as we go ahead, but we are doing everything we can to keep our children safe,” Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan told the Today program.
The minister was asked why schools were being closed for a day or two, while people with or suspected of having the virus are being told to self-isolate for two weeks.
“The schools have been closed for a day so they can be thoroughly cleaned,” he replied.
“That is the best medical advice that we’re being given at the moment. Now, if that changes and it says that schools need to close for longer, then schools will close for longer.”
The school closed today include Carey Baptist Grammar School in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Kew, St Patrick’s Marist College in Dundas in western Sydney and Willoughby Girls High School on Sydney’s north shore.
FIRST ITALIAN TO GET VIRUS RECOVERING
Italian doctors celebrated one small victory after the first patient diagnosed with the illness, a 38-year-old Unilever worker, was moved out of intensive care and began breathing on his own.
But the virus’ rapid spread was forcing them to operate like wartime medics, triaging patients to decide who get access to scarce ICU beds.
“Unfortunately we’re only at the beginning,” said Dr. Massimo Galli, head of infectious disease at Milan’s Sacco hospital.
Travellers at Milan’s main train station had to sign police forms self-certifying that they are travelling for “proven work needs,” situations of necessity, health reasons or to return home. They also needed to provide identity documents, contact numbers and an exact reason for travel from the financial hub.
Across Italy, museums and archaeological sites were closed, weddings were cancelled and restaurants were told to keep patrons a metre (more than 3 feet) apart.
Officials ordered ski lifts across the country to close, even those outside the quarantine zone, after students whose classes were cancelled began organising trips to winter resorts.
Inmates at more than two dozen Italian prisons rioted against restrictions on family visits and other containment measures, and six died after they broke into the infirmary and overdosed on methadone.
Pope Francis celebrated Mass alone at the Vatican hotel where he lives, live- streaming the event, but he did resume some meetings.
THIRD DEFENCE MEMBER TESTS POSITIVE
The Australian Defence Force confirmed a third member had tested positive for coronavirus on Monday night after they caught it off someone outside defence.
Another ADF officer who travelled from Sydney to Canberra for a meeting last month tested positive to coronavirus.
The NSW resident, a man in his 40s, was one of two ADF personnel initially confirmed to have contracted COVID-19.
The man attended a meeting at Defence Headquarters in Russell, ACT on February 28.
Details about the other ADF member have not been made public.
CORONAVIRUS SHIP DOCKS IN SAN FRANCISCO
US officials have began transferring thousands of passengers on board the Grand Princess to military bases for quarantine or returning them to their home countries.
The Grand Princess pulled into the Port of Oakland in San Francisco with more than 3500 people – 21 of them infected with the new virus. Four Australians are on the ship.
US passengers will be taken to military bases in California, Texas and Georgia for testing and a 14-day quarantine.
As the ship sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge to enter the harbour, passenger Karen Schwartz Dever said “everyone was hollering and clapping.”
Passengers lining the balconies waved and some left the cabins where they had been in isolation to go on deck.
Twenty-three people who needed acute medical care had been taken off the ship by late Monday afternoon, but it was not clear how many of them had tested positive for the virus, said Shawn Boyd, a spokesman for the California Office of Emergency Services.
Live TV footage showed at least one passenger, an older man wearing a face mask, climbing onto a stretcher and being lifted into the back of an ambulance.
Officials have said the unloading will take up to three days.
“Our intent is to basically disembark about half the passengers today. Everyone will be screened initially today,” said Robert Kadlec, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services Services.
Workers wearing gloves and yellow protective gear erected a large tent by a platform where passengers were disembarking, and two tents displaying Canadian flags were also on the tarmac.
At least 20 buses and five ambulances waited. Canada and the UK were among the countries sending chartered flights to take home citizens. The ship is carrying people from 54 countries.
It had been held off the coast since Wednesday amid evidence it was the breeding ground for infections tied to a previous voyage.
Earlier, an elderly British woman on board revealed “stir-crazy” passengers were fighting over “rotten” food.
Margaret Bartlett, 77 — one of 140 Britons aboard the Grand Princess — said that she was confined to her cabin, which has no balcony.
“The food is rotten and terrible and we have to fight for it,” Mrs Bartlett said.
“It is not good enough.”
“We are going stir crazy stuck in the cabin,” she added.
“It is a bit depressing when we saw land and it was sunny and we couldn’t get out.”
According to the New York Post, Mrs Barlett said that a passenger who was staying 10 cabins away from her on board the ship has died.
Officials have confirmed that at least one person, a 71-year-old man, died of coronavirus last week after his time on board the cruise.
On Sunday, Australian Bill Pearce described conditions on the boat and said he and his wife Karen were “worried” the virus had spread.
Passenger Debbie Loftus of Wisconsin told the Los Angeles Times she is grateful California Governor Gavin Newsom is finally allowing the stranded passengers into the state, calling it a “change in attitude.”
“It is nice that he is now welcoming us into California,” she said.
“A few days ago, he did not want us anywhere near his state.”
“This is all going to be a very new experience, going to a military base in Oakland, getting on what I assume is not going to be a commercial airline or … going someplace I’ve never been,” Ms Loftus added.
“Not sure what the accommodations are going to be like and how long we’re going to be held there. Yes, it’s a little bit anxiety-producing, but [we] will handle it minute by minute.”
Mrs Bartlett told the BBC she fears being stuck on board as Americans are taken off — but the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was “working intensively” to secure a repatriation flight for its stranded citizens.
“We are hoping something will get done,” Mrs Bartlett said. “It is terrible.”
US officials prepared to receive thousands of people on Monday (local time) from the boat.
Personnel covered head to toe in protective gear woke up passengers on the Grand Princess to check whether they were sick.
On land, fences were installed at an 11-acre site at the Port of Oakland as authorities readied flights and buses to whisk the passengers aboard the ship to military bases or their home countries for a 14-day quarantine.
The more than 3500 passengers and staff on the ship hail from 54 countries.
“We’re making every effort to get them off the ship as safely and quickly as possible,” said Dr. John Redd of the US Department of Health and Human Services, who urged passengers to remain in their rooms.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the mayor of Oakland sought to reassure the public that none of the Grand Princess passengers would be exposed to the US public before completing the quarantine.
The Port of Oakland was chosen for docking because of its proximity to an airport and a military base, Newsom said. pas
US passengers will be transported to military bases in California, Texas and Georgia, where they’ll be tested for the COVID-19 virus and quarantined.
AUSSIES TOLD TO ‘RECONSIDER’ CRUISE TRIPS
It comes as Australians have been told to “reconsider” taking an overseas cruise as they will not be able to rely on the government saving them if there is a coronavirus outbreak.
People who still decide to go on a cruise should consult with a medical professional before travelling, according to new advice on the Smartraveller website.
“Australians, particularly those with underlying health concerns should reconsider taking an overseas cruise at this time due to COVID-19,” the website said.
“Repatriation from cruise ships affected by COVID-19 should not be relied upon as an option.”
The cruise industry has put strong measures in place for the health and safety of passengers, including screening everyone before they board.
Cruise lines will deny boarding to anyone who has visited or transited the most affected countries including China, Iran, South Korea and parts of Italy in the 14 days before the ship departs.
VIRUS SPREADS IN INDONESIA
It comes as the coronavirus continues to spread in Indonesia where the number of confirmed cases jumped to 19 people (as at Monday).
Two of the 13 new cases are foreign nationals but their identity and country of origin remains under wraps, however, neither of the foreign patients are Australian.
“Cases 10 and 11 – the foreign nationals – are not Australian citizens. I can’t mention it (their nationalities) because their ambassador asked not to be named by country,” said Mr Achmad Yurianto, the secretary of the Health Ministry’s Disease Control and Prevention Directorate.
The popular holiday island of Bali has 17 foreign nationals and two locals in quarantine with those displaying symptoms in hospital while healthy suspects are in monitored isolation at their hotels awaiting test results.
“Of the 13 new cases, none were from Bali,” Mr Yurianto said.
Three of the new cases are linked to Indonesia’s patient zero – or Case 1 – who tested positive for the virus after coming into contact with a Japanese national who was visiting Indonesian family in Jakarta in early February.
After leaving Indonesia she was diagnosed with coronavirus in Malaysia.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo announced the nations’ first two confirmed cases of coronavirus just a week ago.
“The total number of confirmed positive cases as of today is 19,” Mr Yurianto said.
Seven of the newly diagnosed cased have been identified as imported cases indicating that the virus was transmitted outside of Indonesia.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has revised it travel advice for Indonesia to warn that the country has an increasing risk of infection and limited testing abilities.
“The Indonesian Government has confirmed a number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. There is limited availability of testing and infection control facilities and the risk of transmission of the virus is increasing,” says the update on Smartraveller.gov.au.
The website warned that critical care for managing Australians who become serious ill, including in Bali, is below Australian standards.
DUBLIN CANCELS ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
The Irish government will cancel this year’s St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin because of the coronavirus outbreak, state broadcaster RTE reported, citing a decision made by a cabinet subcommittee.
Ireland currently has 21 cases of COVID-19, and the country’s second city, Cork, has already cancelled its festivities.
The parade was due to be held on March 17.
Meanwhile, a Disneyland Paris worker has been diagnosed with coronavirus however the popular theme park will stay open with guests instead told to stay away from each other.
According to BFMTV, the infected person worked “behind the scenes” as a maintenance worker and did not have contact with park attendants.
Guests will still be able to attend Disneyland Paris but will be given hand sanitiser and asked to keep their distance from each other, a difficult task considering most of the park’s rides are two-seater attractions.
The park is also only accepting card payment over fears the virus could be spread with cash.
The French capital has brought in a number of strict control measures to contain the virus.
RUDD-STYLE HANDOUTS AN OPTION
The Morrison Government is considering a Kevin Rudd-style cash handout as part of its multi-billion dollar coronavirus stimulus package.
Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell has revealed Prime Minister Scott Morrison is in discussions with his team for ways to distribute close to $10 billion in stimulus to help the economy.
Clennell said “even cash handouts to ordinary citizens” were still “on the table” but the idea was facing fierce opposition from Finance and Treasurer officials who were reluctant to offer the package to ordinary citizens.
“Even cash handouts to ordinary citizens are still on the table as the government wrestles with its stimulus package,” Clennell said.
“I understand cash handouts similar to what occurred in the Rudd era have not been ruled out but Finance and Treasury officials are said to be pushing back against this sort of stimulus and the PM would seem reluctant on it as well.”
The Coalition will also consider dishing out hundreds of millions in cash to small businesses – most likely those with a turnover of $50 million or less – in wage subsidies to keep the economy going and attempt to keep people in jobs
Also on the table are business tax incentives, including potentially increasing the asset write-off under which businesses with a turnover of between $10 million and $50 million are able to claim the full amount of a capital cost – like buying a van or a trailer – up to $30,000. That write-off could be increased to $50,000 for example.
“Thousands” of Australians have been asked to self-isolate as the spread of coronavirus continues and the Federal Government works to set up more testing clinics.
But return travellers are being warned to get tested if they have symptoms.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy told reporters in Melbourne the new clinics may be located within an existing clinic, but with a separate entrance.
“The idea is to keep potential cases away from the general community,” he said.
He said they were looking to create a range of them but it will be more difficult in rural and regional areas.
When asked about whether Australia needed more travel bans given how fast the virus is spreading, he said the most important consideration is return travellers to monitor themselves and report to doctors if they have any symptoms:
“Our current travel bans are proportionate. No more travel bans are recommended,” he said.
“The most important thing for Australia to slow the progression of this disease is for return travellers who become unwell with flu-like symptoms, upper respiratory symptoms – cough, sore throat, fever and the like, to contact their doctor and get tested. That is the best way that we will contain the growth in this disease.”
VIRUS SPARKS OIL PRICE WAR
Fuel retailers have been put on notice to pass on falls in the oil price to motorists as the coronavirus continues to spread, affecting markets worldwide.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg spoke with Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims on Monday morning to “re-emphasise … the importance of holding the oil retailers to account”.
Oil dropped by as much as 30 per cent on Monday as a price war broke out.
Saudi Arabia slashed its export oil prices over the weekend after major supplier nations failed to agree to a supply cut.
Mr Frydenberg said the ACCC would “not only maintain their monitoring role and the vigilance that involves, but they’ll also be calling out any energy companies that don’t pass on the reduction in the wholesale price to the Australian consumer.”
He did not provide any more insight into the government’s economic stimulus plan, which is expected to be made public later this week.
Asked about the sharemarket’s five per cent-plus nosedive yesterday, Mr Frydenberg said “this is a very different situation to what we saw through the GFC, which was essentially, a problem with the banking and the financial system and issues of liquidity.
“We haven’t seen those same problems in relation to this health crisis. What we have seen is a supply and demand side constraints, and that’s where our package will be focused,” he said.
ALERT FOR PASSENGERS ON SYDNEY TO CANBERRA FLIGHTS
Australian health authorities have also issued an alert for people travelling on two flights between Sydney and Canberra after a passenger tested positive for the coronavirus.
The flights both occurred on February 28.
The first was Qantas flight QF1509 which departed Sydney at 6.45am, while the second was Virgin Australia flight VA651 which departed Canberra at 2.35pm.
NSW Health and the ACT Health Directorate have asked anyone seated in rows two to six on the first flight, and rows three to seven on the second flight, to self-quarantine and contact their respective health department or the National Coronavirus Information Hotline.
Passengers in other rows on the flights have not been deemed close contacts but should monitor their health until March 13 and contact their GP if they develop symptoms.
BALI CRUISE SCARE UNFOUNDED
It comes as two cases of pharyngitis were behind the luxury cruise liner the MV Viking Sun being refused entry to two Indonesian ports and held up in Bali over fears of COVID-19 infection.
Two passengers on the vessel displayed symptoms of coronavirus and the ship was refused permission to dock at two ports in Java then it was denied approval to dock in Bali’s Benoa.
A squad of seven doctors and three nurses were deployed from Bali’s Mandara Hospital to examine the two people.
“Our doctors examined the two people suspected of having the virus and they found they were suffering from pharyngitis,” Director of Bali Mandara Hospital, Gede Bagus Dharmayasa told News Corp Australia.
The harbour master gave the green light for the luxury liner to enter Bali after health officials and screened all 1200 passengers and crew.
The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, had earlier said the ship would be banned.
A total of 1190 people came ashore after the Viking Sun anchored.
“We have given permission for passengers and crew to get out of the ship. There were 738 passengers and 452 crew who came off the Viking Sun,” said Augustinus Maun – the head of Bali’s Port Office and Harbour Authority.
Passengers travelling on the luxury liner includes Australian, British, American and Canadian nationals.
“All passengers and crew already had their health checked according to WHO regulations by a team from the port health office, the Bali health office and the Bali Mandara hospital. As a result, passengers and crew were declared healthy and no one was suspected of being infected with coronavirus,” Mr Maun said.
Bali’s change of heart comes after the MV Viking Sun cruise had a tense standoff and eventual refusal to enter port overnight with Bali authorities declaring it was not risking its resort island ports.
It was turned away from docking at two separate Javanese ports in the past week due to two passengers showing symptoms for coronavirus.
Bali authorities specifically called out the fact the ship was carrying Australians and had come from here for their decision, noting the country had a growing coronavirus problem.
Bali decides to deny entry for the MV Viking Sun, following authorities in Surabaya and East Java over health concerns regarding #COVID19, the ship currently anchored near Benoa Port #coronavirus #CoronaAlert #SARSCoV2 pic.twitter.com/EmDCprmIoR
— COVID19 Updates in Asia (@SEACoronavirus) March 7, 2020
The cruise ship was scheduled to dock at Bali’s Benoa Port for a two-day stay before moving to Lombok.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster said after a meeting with health authorities in capital Denpasar he decided to “scrap” permission to dock.
“As the best tourist destination in the world, we are very prone to health issues. Thus, we have to be careful,” Mr Koster said.
“We don’t want to chase a small amount money if it could have a major negative impact on tourism, the backbone of Bali’s economy.”
Of the passengers who disembarked 375 people went to the airport to fly out of Bali while the other 363 went on tours and sightseeing.
The Viking Sun left Bali on Monday evening.
Bali has zero confirmed cases, however, 17 foreign tourists and two Indonesians are held in isolation and are waiting for test results.
The island of Java has six confirmed cases and 21 people in isolation units in hospital in Jakarta.
HOSPITAL SEEKING PASSENGERS FROM SINGAPORE FLIGHT
Meanwhile, passengers on board a flight from Singapore to Sydney last month have been asked to self-isolate and St Vincent’s Hospital is urgently seeking patients who may have come in contact with a man who tested positive for COVID-19 after presenting to the hospital’s emergency department.
St Vincent’s Hospital is searching for patients who may have been exposed to the coronavirus after a man in his 70s who was in the Darlinghurst emergency department on Friday tested positive to coronavirus.
The man had not recently travelled overseas and the source of his infection is not known.
“St Vincent’s Hospital is in the process of contacting patients who may have come in contact with him,” NSW Health said in a statement.
The other case is a man in his 40s who recently travelled overseas.
NSW Health is working to identify anyone who may have come into close contact with the man while he was infectious.
Health authorities have also released the details of a flight in which a man in his 50s was aboard while potentially infectious.
Passengers who arrived on QF02 leaving Singapore on February 27 and arriving in Sydney February 28, and were seated in rows 31 to 33 have been asked to self-isolate and call their local public health unit for further guidance on 1300 066 055.
AMA BACKS SICK DOCTOR
The doctor scolded for going to work with coronavirus symptoms and later testing positive for the infection is being backed by the Australian Medical Association, which says an “apology is appropriate” as “the guidelines did not require him to be tested”.
As a result, the AMA is calling for a unified national approach and guidelines to identifying and treating the deadly coronavirus, in a bid to prevent states adopting separate policies.
That is according to national association president Tony Bartone, who said Dr Chris Higgins, the father of singer Missy Higgins, acted with informed clinical judgment to test himself despite not being required to under the guidelines.
His comments were directed at MP Jenny Mikakos after she said she was “flabbergasted” a doctor with flu-like symptoms had continued to treat patients.
“At the time that he returned to Australia, the guidelines did not require him to be tested,” Dr Bartone said on Sunday.
“When he did have the test, he still not did need to be tested, and indeed … those guidelines still do not require that anyone returning from the USA to be tested.
“I believe that an apology is appropriate in the circumstances.”
It is understood Ms Mikakos has spoken with Dr Higgins but did not apologise.
Instead of apologising, Ms Mikakos said everyone has to prevent the spread of the virus.
She said in a statement on Sunday: “We understand the pressure they (healthcare system workers) can feel to turn up to work when they are feeling unwell. All of us have a responsibility to do what we can to prevent the spread of this virus.”
Dr Higgins said he did not take a test because he didn’t fulfil criteria for testing.
“I had a mild cold when I returned from the USA last Saturday morning, which had almost resolved itself by Monday morning, hence my decision to return to work,” he said on social media.
“I hesitated to do a swab because I did not fulfil your criteria for testing but did one anyway on Thursday evening for sake of completeness, not imagining for one moment it would turn out to be positive.”
GET YOURSELF TESTED: HEALTH MINISTER
Anyone in doubt about potentially coming into contact with the coronavirus should get themselves tested even though it could stress the health system, the Morrison Government has advised.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the position was “very clear” if a person believed they may have come into contact with COVID-19 they should self isolate but also not hesitate to seek a test if they become concerned.
“If in doubt, get yourself tested. That’s the important message,” he said.
“Even though it can be a little bit of a stress on the system, we would rather people over test than under test.”
Mr Hunt said Australians must rise to face the “challenges” presented by coronavirus and support nurses, medics and aged care workers trying to do their jobs.
“Our job, working with the states and territory … (and) working with the community, is to make sure that we are not just prepared, but that we are unified,” he said.
It comes after Melbourne doctor Chris Higgins, father of Australian singer Missy Higgins, faced criticism for continuing to work for more than a week with an unknown mild case of coronavirus.
Originally published as Fears Donald Trump exposed to coronavirus as Italy locks down whole country
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