Coronavirus: Strong health system has us well placed for coronavirus challenge

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy Picture: AAP

Australians are well aware of the developments in the COVID-19 outbreak this week. The recent large outbreaks in South Korea, Italy and Japan are a cause for concern as we have now seen sustained community transmission in several countries.

Naturally, people will be concerned, and will be wondering what happens if a pandemic is declared.

We are effectively close to a situation of a global pandemic, regardless of whether or when the World Health Organisation declares this to be so. But what does this mean for Australia and how worried should we be?

People can be reassured that we have a very strong health system in Australia. This is evidenced by the way we rapidly identified and contained the initial 15 cases of COVID-19 from China and safely brought back our citizens from Wuhan and the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

Because of our swift and proactive actions, we have, so far, successfully contained this virus. There is no community transmission in Australia and, right now, people should go about their normal business without fear of contracting COVID-19 and (please) without unnecessarily wearing and wasting face masks.

With the international spread of this virus, we need to be realistic. It is almost inevitable that we will see more cases of COVID-19 in Australia in coming weeks, along with the potential for community transmission in this country. Our strong public health system will be able to help to slow transmission, but it is very likely that a significant number of us could be infected over a period of many weeks.

However, it is important to remember that the great majority — more than 80 per cent — of people infected with COVID-19 have a very mild disease. Some are so mild that the symptoms are barely noticed and all of the original 15 cases in Australia have now fully recovered. A small number of people — fewer than 5 per cent — do get a very serious disease with pneumonia and we know there have been some people who have died from this infection. Most have been frail elderly people and people with chronic diseases. These are the same people who are susceptible to poor outcomes with influenza infection each year.

If we do have a significant outbreak in Australia, for most of us it is likely to be a nuisance being asked to isolate at home to prevent further infection — but it is important we do that to protect others in our community. For people with a more severe infection, we know we have an excellent health system that can provide them with the best possible care.

We are well prepared. We have a national COVID-19 plan and are undertaking a large range of preparatory activities across the health system. The federal government and state and territory health officials are meeting daily to monitor this preparation and be able to flexibly respond to whatever challenges this virus brings us.

And, of course, we draw from the experience of each and every flu season. The messages of good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, isolation when unwell are the same. Other measures may be required and we will be communicating to the public further on these issues.

A response to a large outbreak will require community co-operation and participation but there is no country in the world better prepared for a health challenge like this.