Conflicting official advice ‘may have fed state virus spike’

Some Victorians awaiting COVID-19 test results have continued to mingle because of confusing health directives.

Professor Mary-Louise McLaws of UNSW.

Some Victorians awaiting COVID-19 test results have continued to mingle in the community because of health directives that only people with symptoms should remain in isolation — a move a leading epidemiologist worries might have contributed to the massive spread of the virus.

In one case, a Melbourne employee was still at work when his positive test result came through in mid-July because he had provided his employer with a letter from Monash Health, the state’s largest public health service. That letter advised that pending receipt of his test result, “if you do not have symptoms you can continue normal activities, unless you are a close contact of a known case”.

The man had no symptoms of coronavirus and was taking the precautionary step of being tested on Monday July 13 because he was acquainted with a parent suspected of having contracted the virus. He was not a close contact.

While that parent later tested negative, after his test the asymptomatic man continued to work on site for a small Melbourne manufacturing firm, which is still operating during the city’s stage-four lockdown to fulfil government contracts.

On Tuesday July 14, the man provided his employer with a letter from Monash Health that said while he awaited his test result, “if you have symptoms stay at home and isolate — do not attend school, work, go shopping or engage in any other activities”.

Because he had no symptoms and was not a close contact of a known case, “in which case you must still isolate for the required 14 days”, he continued to work.

The owner of the factory was surprised at the advice but re­assured when the initial case proved negative: “We thought OK, that sounds reasonable. The person he decided to have a test for is negative and it (the letter) says go back (to work) if you’re asymptomatic. And two days later, he was declared positive.”

The man was in a meeting at work when he received a call about his positive result; the business was immediately closed and deep-cleaned and all staff were tested.

While no one else from the company contracted COVID-19, the revelations cast a different light on concerns aired by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew two weeks ago that most Victorians awaiting test results were not self-isolating. “Every person who gets tested is provided with very clear instructions about staying at home and waiting until those results come through. Just to be really clear, a person has symptoms. People are taking too long to go from that point of first onset of symptoms to getting tested,” Mr Andrews said.

“I am equally saddened to have to report that 53 per cent … did not isolate … between when they had their test taken and when they got the results of that test.”

That advice appeared to highlight those showing symptoms of COVID-19, as opposed to asymptomatic cases, a discrepancy that has lingered.

Official information on the state’s health website continues to offer conflicting advice for those being tested for the virus. A page about receiving test results says: “After you’ve been tested, you need to go straight home and wait for your results.” Another page only directs symptomatic people to return home immediately.

A spokesperson for Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services said asymptomatic testing was recommended only in limited circumstances, including for returned travellers and aged-care workers, most of whom would already be isolating.

“Anyone who is asymptomatic and was tested as part of a testing blitz does not need to isolate before test results are received, but should maintain physical distancing and good hand hygiene at all times regardless. Anyone with even the mildest of symptoms who gets tested must isolate until they receive the results.”

National guidelines for public health units dealing with COVID-19 say anyone with symptoms “who is tested should stay home until a negative test is returned or symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer”.

NSW requires everyone to go home, regardless of symptoms.

Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws, a member of the World Health Organisation’s advisory group on COVID-19, was unaware of Victorian government policy until contacted by The Australian.

“Given this information, it may come to pass that this is one of the reasons why their (Victoria’s) rates have been stubbornly high,” said Professor McLaws.

About 20 per cent of people who contract COVID-19 have no symptoms and “It’s wise to stay at home until you’ve got that result”.

“Just because you haven’t got symptoms doesn’t mean you’re safe to other people,” Professor McLaws said.