5 May 2020

Five more cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in the ACT, nine people now hospitalised

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The Canberra Hospital

Nine COVID-19 patients are being treated in the Canberra Hospital. Photo: George Tsotsos.

There have been five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the ACT in the past 24 hours, bringing the ACT’s total to 84. Three more people have been hospitalised with the virus, bringing the total to nine, while two remain in intensive care.

However, eight people have now fully recovered from the virus and have been released from self-isolation.

ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman continues to say that there is no evidence of community transmission but is warning that it is likely at some point.

“We are in a good position here in the ACT, but we will soon see some level of community transmission,” she said.

“We are expecting to see this sooner rather than later which is why it is important that we all work together to slow the spread.”

The new cases consist of three males and two females, aged between 27 and 79. Four of the new cases are linked to overseas travel, including on cruise ships, and one is a close contact of a previously confirmed case.

ACT Health says that they are still investigating one case, although they announced yesterday that another case had been dismissed as COVID-19 after further investigation.

A total of eight people have recovered from COVID-19 and have been released from self-isolation. The rest are isolating at home with ACT Health support. One person has died from the virus.

The increase in hospitalisations is a combination of the virus’ severity, the age of the patient and how long it takes them to recover, and whether they would be able to safely quarantine at home, Dr Coleman said.

“As the evidence shows, if people are going to progress to a more severe illness, it does happen in the second week and when elderly people get unwell they take a lot longer to recover,” she said.

“There are also issues of being able to protect vulnerable household members from cases while they are still infectious and where we can do that at the moment by keeping them in hospital, we are doing that.”

“But soon we will not be able to do that anymore so we are taking a look at how we can protect those vulnerable members in households from people who are still infectious.”

There have been 4,774 negative COVID-19 tests in the ACT to date.

ACT Health is continuing to take appropriate public health action in line with national guidelines and says it has taken a precautionary approach to classify indeterminate tests that indicate a probable positive result.

“In cases where the indeterminate tests indicate it is more likely to be positive than not, the individual has been classified as a confirmed case until further testing can provide a more definitive result. As with other confirmed cases, thorough contact tracing is undertaken,” a statement from ACT Health says.

“Where further testing definitively determines the individual to not have COVID-19, the case is reclassified as a negative result.”

People who are concerned and want further information on the virus should visit the ACT Government’s COVID-19 website, or call the Australian Government’s Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For details on how the ACT statistics compare to other jurisdictions across Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website. This information is updated daily.

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JC the coffee shop in the Jerra shopping centre is situated in the open inside a large space , with Woollies one side and the chemist the other.
All chairs are on top of tables as their business is to be take away
only.
There was a Lady in front of me being served. I stood about 5 metres behind waiting my turn as there was no one else around.. After I was served and received my coffee ( excellent coffee by the way. Always has been. Run by a young couple ) I was off to wander back to my car.
There was no one behind me waiting. As a rule there would be and I do hope the couple are able to survive.
Now I have no doubt the medical waiting room hygiene is of the highest.
But it ain’t real big, and having peoples seeking medical attention strolling past me normally wouldn’t worry me. But it did this time.

I’m well aware of that, but it doesn’t change the fact you were at greater risk getting a coffee rather than waiting in the doctors surgery.

I went to Jerra this morning to get my flu shot at the Doctors. After getting it the nurse said I had to sit in the waiting room for 15 minutes to see if there was a reaction.
After about 5 minutes and I guess 5 people strolled past me, I was off.
No reaction from flu shot. Now I can understand there could be a reaction and waiting for 15 minutes would be recommendable. But not in a medical centre waiting room.

Anna thank you for your concern re my car and a tree. But after I got a coffee and wandered back to the car the 15 minutes was over and I was still upright.
Yes I know there can be reactions to injections, as I mentioned earlier, but I did not wish to spend 15 minutes in a Medical Center reception area.
OK there’s a seat outside where the cars park. I could have told the receptionist I will be there .. Next time I shall do that.
…….. Indeed Anna I should have done just that. Thanks

Capital Retro3:29 pm 01 Apr 20

“wandered back to the car ……”

What did you put in the coffee?

Retro .. please .. was straight coffee .. I wandered back to the car,, not lurched.

So what was your concern? If covid-19 you were safer in the doctors survey than the coffee shop where you got your coffee from.

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