Coronavirus: University of Wollongong student being tested for Covid-19
A female student from the University of Wollongong is being tested for Coronavirus, after she presented to campus medical with flu-like symptoms.
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A University of Wollongong student has been taken to hospital for Coronavirus testing, after she presented to the campus medical clinic with flu-like symptoms.
The university announced the student was taken to hospital via ambulance atround 10am this morning for testing, and that it would continue to monitor the situation and update students and staff as new information becomes available.
It’s understood paramedics were called to the university’s main Gwynneville campus about 10.25am on Wednesday.
A UOW security car met the ambulance on Northfields Avenue and escorted it to where the woman was waiting. She was wearing a protective face mask at the time.
If the student needs to be isolated while waiting for test results, the university has confirmed suitable accommodation will be available that meets NSW Health’s isolation requirements.
“UOW staff will provide ongoing support to the student to ensure their welfare during this period,” a spokesman for UOW said.
“The university has long-established public health procedures in place that have been refined from experience during previous influenza pandemics such as SARS in 2003.
“Students or staff who are feeling unwell are advised to phone a general practitioner or their local hospital for information and not to visit in person.”
The news comes as six new coronavirus cases were confirmed in NSW yesterday, bringing the state’s infection total to 15 so far.
The latest cases included a 39-year-old man who recently arrived from Iran, a 53-year-old man from Singapore, two women in their 60s — one from South Korea and another woman from Japan, another man in his 30s from Iran and a woman in her 50s, who has not travelled abroad recently and is believed to have acquired the illness locally.
Earlier on Tuesday Premier Gladys Berejiklian said four of the NSW cases had recovered from the virus.
“What is positive however is that four cases that have been diagnosed have recovered,” she said.
“NSW Health is constantly reviewing new potential cases and undertaking contact tracking as they call it of all persons who had associations with the confirmed cases.”
Keira MP Ryan Park said while the fact a UOW student was being tested for COVID-19 was concerning, it was positive she presented to medical staff for assistance.
“It’s pleasing this student came forward voluntarily because now, if she needs to be isolated, people she may have been in contact with, whether it be family, friends or other students can be notified,” he said.
Mr Park said he had offered bipartisan support to the health minister to lobby the federal government for extra funds to support our hospitals, given the growing number of coronavirus cases.
“Given the enormous amount of pressure on Wollongong Hospital, I remain concerned about the ability to keep up with the a potential outbreak,” he said.
“That’s why we are calling for more federal government funding.”