Medical expert explains how Australians should respond to the spike in COVID-19 cases

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has provided answers to a range of questions on the coronavirus pandemic including travel, masks and gatherings.

Paul Kelly speaks to the media on Monday.

Paul Kelly speaks to the media on Monday. Source: AAP

As the number of coronavirus cases spikes in Australia, the government has .

On Monday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly talked with reporters on what this means for Australians and how they should be responding to the outbreak.

Here were some of his most important pieces of information.

What's the advice on enclosed spaces?

Current advice is not to allow outdoor events with more than 500 people. Health officials are considering on Monday whether this should also apply to indoor activities.

Can family members still visit aged care residents?

"We need to do what we can to limit the opportunity for the infection to come into aged care."

Does Australia have enough testing kits?

Testing kit supplies are fine but there are some issues around "consumables" used in testing. In one clinic, there were 1,600 tests conducted with only one returning positive.
A man wears a face mask in Sydney.
A man wears a face mask in Sydney. Source: AAP

Are there enough masks?

"We have over 20 million masks in our national stockpile. States and territories have their stockpiles. It's no secret masks are short around the world and we're looking at every way we can to increase supply into Australia. We're also looking at decreasing demand. What can we do in terms of limiting the masks that we have to health workers."

What's the advice on Uber and Taxi drivers picking up airport passengers?

"We've asked people to self-isolate when they come in through the border from midnight last night."

Should people be working from home?

"We're all in this together. We need to start thinking about what we can do in that personal isolation space. This is something for all businesses to think about what we can do to decrease infection in our own workplaces."

What should people do if they are returning from overseas?

"If people are found to be symptomatic when they arrive, then they won't be travelling on. People that are well will be allowed to travel back to their homes and that's the best place for them to be."


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Published 16 March 2020 3:22pm



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