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Australia coronavirus cases rise after fresh cases in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales

The number of coronavirus cases in New South Wales continues to grow, with two more cases confirmed as the nation’s tally soars.

Matt Young and Shannon Molloy
6 min read
March 7, 2020 - 10:36PM
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The total number of coronavirus cases in Australia now stands at 74, after two new cases have been confirmed in New South Wales.

It brings the state’s total to 36, the highest in the country, after another six cases were confirmed last night.

The two new cases include a man in his 60s, who recently returned from Italy and is currently under investigation, and a second man in his 40s who is a friend of a previously confirmed case. He had travelled on return Sydney to Canberra flights on February 28.

NSW Health is asking anyone seated in rows 2-6 in the first flight (Sydney to Canberra) or rows 3-7 in the second flight (Canberra to Sydney) to self-isolate and call their local public health unit for guidance.

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It comes after Tasmania Public Health Authorities recorded its second official case this afternoon.

The new cases included a male in his 50s, who is a close contact of a previously confirmed case. A male in his 40s, who is a family member of a previously confirmed case. A female in her 40s, a family member of a previously confirmed case. A female in her 40s, a close contact of a previously confirmed case.

A male in his 20s, a close contact of a previously confirmed case. A male in his 70s, who returned from Italy and who exhibited symptoms a day after returning.

There are now 11 confirmed cases in Victoria; one confirmed case in the Northern Territory and two in Tasmania.

South Australia has seven confirmed cases; Queensland has a total of 14 confirmed cases and Western Australia has three.

VICTORIA

A Melbourne doctor who treated at least 70 patients at his clinic and saw two others at a nursing home has been diagnosed with coronavirus, sparking fury and concern.

The Victorian doctor, a GP aged in his 70s, became unwell on a flight from the United States to Australia at the end of a holiday, but went back to work at The Toorak Clinic in Toorak for five days anyway.

He was last night diagnosed with the potentially deadly virus and Victorian Health authorities have been in touch with those who came in contact with him, urging them to self-isolate for 14 days.

“I have to say I am flabbergasted that a doctor that has flu-like symptoms has gone to work,” the state’s Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.

The doctor worked at The Toorak Clinic in Toorak in Melbourne.
The doctor worked at The Toorak Clinic in Toorak in Melbourne.

The man became unwell on a flight from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco in California on February 27, and then flew on to Melbourne on United Airlines flight 0060, arriving on the morning of February 29.

On Monday, he went to work at The Toorak Clinic on Malvern Road in the suburb of Toorak and saw at least 70 patients between then and Friday.

“Patients have been contacted via text message this morning, or were called this morning, they will be followed up with emails,” Ms Mikakos said.

“This doctor also attended two patients at a nursing home in Malvern during that time. The two nursing home patients have been isolated in their rooms and the department is working to provide support care for these residents.”

Victoria’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Brett Sutton told reporters there was a chance he infected some of his patients.

The doctor is now recovering in isolation but his decision to keep working when he was clearly ill has sparked anger from the government.

“I understand our medical and healthcare workers are dedicated to the work they do,” Ms Mikakos said.

“But it is irresponsible for people to be going to work if they are unwell, and that is not just healthcare workers, it is everybody in the community who needs to take this very seriously.”

The Toorak Clinic has been shut down until further notice.

Federal authorities are also working to obtain the passenger manifest from the flight the man was on, so those who came in contact with him on board can be contacted, she said.

“Passengers will be contacted as soon as it is made available.”

Meanwhile, Ms Mikakos announced that two international students at a school in Shepparton have tested negative for the virus.

Chrissie Maus, who is the general manager of Chapel Street Precinct Association, said the health and safety of the local community was their “number one focus”.

“We (Chapel Street Precinct Association) are here to assure you that the Department of Health & Human Services has advised us this is contained and under control,” Ms Maus said.

“We are working closely with the City of Stonnington to assure our residents, visitors and businesses that important precautions have been taken and not to panic.

“This will only again bring us together as a community and strengthen our bond.”

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos is “flabbergasted” that the doctor worked while unwell. Picture: AAP
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos is “flabbergasted” that the doctor worked while unwell. Picture: AAP

QUEENSLAND

Overnight a 28-year-old man in Queensland who reportedly flew from Iran to Australia tested positive for coronavirus.

“A 28-year-old male is in a stable condition and is being transferred from his home in Brisbane to the Princess Alexandra Hospital,” a Queensland Health statement said.

“He has recently returned from Iran and contact tracing is underway.”

Almost 3000 Queenslanders have been issued notices asking them to voluntarily self-isolate since the coronavirus outbreak in Australia.

Three of Queensland’s confirmed cases were on the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship.

On Saturday, health authorities in Victoria reported a new case – taking the state’s total to 11 – but no further details were available.

A clinical nurse consultant demonstrating patient checks at The Prince Charles Hospital. Picture: AAP
A clinical nurse consultant demonstrating patient checks at The Prince Charles Hospital. Picture: AAP

NEW SOUTH WALES

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged anyone feeling unwell to stay home and said the state’s health system is on high alert.

“We are anticipating this virus will have a concerning phase of a number of months ahead of us,” Ms Berejiklian said.

NSW Health on Friday confirmed three new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases to 34 in the state since the outbreak began.

Two of the new cases, a 24-year-old female and 21-year-old male, are both staff members at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge Aged Care Facility.

Four residents and three staff members have now been confirmed as cases at the facility to date. A 94-year-old female resident passed away earlier this week and subsequently tested positive to COVID-19. The family of the elderly woman have all tested negative.

The latest case in NSW to be diagnosed, the 28th person, is an 18-year-old female. She is a household contact of another recent case in Western Sydney.

An overnight case, a 16-year-old student from Epping Boys High School, was admitted to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and is in a stable condition.

His mother, who works at Ryde Hospital, has undergone testing but is currently well. Several other family members have also undergone testing with results expected tomorrow.

NSW Health is contacting flight passengers on flight number QR908 which left Doha on 1 March.

TOILET PAPER PANIC

Meanwhile, Australia’s panic for toilet paper appears to have spread overseas, with supermarket shelves also emptying across Britain and the US.

Australia’s toilet paper crisis reached fever pitch when photos of empty shelves and stuffed trolleys went viral on social media this week.

One shopper told news.com.au they were stocking up because everyone had gone “a little bit crazy”.

“I’m buying it because everyone else is doing it,” another said.

More than 60 cases of the virus have now been reported across the country and two people have died.

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On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the outbreak could cost Australian taxpayers about $1 billion in health spending.

Across the world, there have been more than 100,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and more than 3,300 reported deaths.

On Friday, shoppers complained of bare aisles and people hoarding loo roll in grocery stores across the UK, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.

Shortages of hand soap, disinfectants, baby wipes, pasta and rice were also spotted in stores.

Boots – one of the UK’s biggest pharmacy chains – has advised that hand sanitiser is sold out in some of its stores and will be rationed in others. Signs posted on shelves also warned face masks were unavailable.

The British Retail Consortium, which represents most of the UK’s supermarkets, told news.com.au there had been a “rise in demand” for both hygiene and long-life products.

“Our members are working as hard as they can to ensure all consumers have access to the products they need,” the director of food and sustainability, Andrew Opie, said.

In the United States, police were called to a Costco in California on Friday after customers became “unruly” over shortages of toilet paper, water and paper towels.

Kroger Co, the biggest independent grocer in the US, has also placed limits on the number of “sanitisation” and “cold and flu-related” products people can buy.

Originally published as Australia coronavirus cases rise after fresh cases in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/australias-toilet-paper-panic-spreads-overseas-with-shortages-reported-in-uk-us/news-story/0c8344d4d8dd00cca38807659d1b0dc9