First northern beaches coronavirus case confirmed, woman in her 30s
A northern beaches woman in her 30s is one of six new confirmed cases of the coronavirus overnight. Here’s what you should do if you think you may be infected.
Manly
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A northern beaches woman in her 30s has been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
NSW Health confirmed the woman was one of six new confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Sydney, bringing the total in NSW since the outbreak to 22.
A source at the hospital said the woman was a member of the public and was diagnosed last night. She was in isolation.
The other new cases include an elderly female resident at a Macquarie Park nursing facility, a female doctor who works at Liverpool Hospital, a male from Cronulla and a female who is believed to have returned from the Philippines.
A 95 year old resident from the Dorothy Henderson Lodge at Macquarie Park who died on Tuesday in hospital was confirmed to have had the virus.
More information about the latest cases, a female in her 30s tested at the Northern Beaches Hospital, and a man in his 50s from Cronulla, will be disclosed as soon as their movements are established.
Ina statement NSW Health said it was continuing to find and respond to cases as they are diagnosed to slow any spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Meanwhile, a northern beaches GP has warned it is only a matter of time before the coronavirus spreads, but the community can help slow it down.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Dr Caroline Rogers of Osana Narrabeen GP surgery said anyone who is worried they may have COVID-19 or who is actually ill should not turn up to see their GP, but phone ahead.
“It’s a telephone triage,” she said.
“We don’t want people coming into waiting rooms and infecting others and doctors.”
Dr Rogers said the only protection GPs have is a mask, gown and disinfectant.
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She said a GP can ask questions over the phone to check with whether a patient meets the criteria of requiring a test and refer them to one of the three designated coronavirus centres on the peninsula.
The centres are in Dee Why, Mona Vale and Frenchs Forest, but patients need a referral from their GP to get a test and must not turn up without one.
She said if a patient is sick and needs hospital treatment they should again phone ahead.
She said at Northern Beaches Hospital they have isolation rooms at the hospital.
However, even if people do what they are supposed to, she believes the virus will continue to spread.
“My feeling is it’s only a matter of time We are not going to be able to stop this from spreading” Dr Rogers said
So far she has sent two patients off for tests both negative
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has set out the criteria by which GPs should assess suspected COVID-19 cases including:
Has the patient travelled to including transit through a country considered to pose a risk of transmission in the 14 days before the onset of illness or had close or casual contact in 14 days before illness onset with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
Does the patient have a fever shortness of breath or cough with or without fever?
Advice from NSW Health is that if you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, call Triple-0 for urgent medical help.
For more details on what to do go to health.nsw.gov.au.