Australia bracing for more coronavirus cases
The country’s top doctor says more coronavirus cases are likely in Australia, but stresses that there is no cause for concern. It comes as four cases of the deadly virus have been confirmed on home soil.
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Australians should brace for more Coronavirus cases as the official death toll in China rises to 56.
The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy warned it was likely more cases would emerge on home soil, but confirmed that currently the infection has been limited to five people.
On Sunday, one person in Victoria had tested positive for the virus and doctors were awaiting results from 11 more.
“All those waiting on test results are isolated at home,” a state government spokesman said. “This number will change regularly as more people present with both symptoms and relevant travel or contact history.”
In the bid to stem the spread, the names of people who travelled on flights with the infected persons have been handed to authorities in Victoria and New South Wales.
The priority is making contacting people sitting within two rows of the men who have contracted the virus.
Authorities will also be stopping people at all Australian airports - who are travelling from China - to review their travel history and inform them of symptoms to be aware of.
An alert will also be issued nationwide to GPs and medical experts.
Federal, state and territorial health ministers convened on Saturday to discuss the evolving issue.
Authorities have been working round the clock to find anyone who had been in contact with the four men who have so far been confirmed as carrying the virus.
The federal government is also considering evacuating Australians trapped in locked-down Chinese cities.
“We are now meeting every flight from China and providing passengers with an information sheet asking them to identify themselves if they are unwell on the flight,” Prof Murphy said.
“But also to identify if they become unwell, particularly, with a fever, cough or respiratory symptoms after.”
Prof Murphy said anyone who believes they may have the virus to call ahead to their doctor or emergency department and to be tested for the virus.
“The risk to the general Australian population is: there is no risk at the moment other than people who have come from (sic), with that travel history or been in contact with those people," he said.
“There is no cause for concern, but we are very interested in identifying anyone who may have come with this disease in recent weeks.”
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Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have asked Chinese officials about if Australians could be let out of the restricted zones in and around Wuhan, where the virus first emerged. Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said her department was exploring the options available.
“The government acknowledges the concerns of Australians who are in Hubei province in China and the concerns of their families and friends,” she said.
China’s President, Xi Jinping’s, said the accelerating spread of the virus was a grave situation.
Despite one case being confirmed in Melbourne, authorities have ruled out concern about the virus spreading at the Australian Open at this stage.
Symptoms include fever, coughing and respiratory issues.