The World Health Authority has today declared the Coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Symptoms can include (but are not limited to) fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, and/or shortness of breath. In severe cases, Coronavirus has led to death. Coronavirus is contagious and can be passed from an infected person to others the same way colds and other viruses are passed, including through:
• direct contact with a person whilst they are infectious;
• contact with droplets when a person with a confirmed infection coughs or sneezes; or
• touching objects or surfaces (such as door knobs or tables) that were contaminated by droplets from secretions coughed or sneezed from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.
As it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to present after a person is infected, it is important for us all to take steps to contain the risks of the virus spreading to our workforce and patients.
Anyone who has travelled in the past 14 days from Hubei Province, including Wuhan City, has been in close contact of a confirmed case, or has visited a healthcare facility in China must take the following steps:
• Self-isolate at home and avoid public settings for 14 days after leaving Hubei Province
• Call the Department of Health and Human Service’s dedicated hotline on 1800 675 398 if they develop symptoms.
• Seek medical assistance as required.
You must advise firstcall HEALTH team immediately if you have come into contact or are presenting the above symptoms.
Kind Regards,
Angela Zulumovski – Director, firstcall HEALTH
