Hospital plan for virus
ELECTIVE surgeries could be cancelled or shifted to private hospitals if public hospital beds are needed to tackle a coronavirus outbreak in Victoria.
The State Government has been in talks with private hospitals on emergency plans to free up space in public hospitals if the disease spreads here.
State Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said a range of contingency options were being considered, including dedicated respiratory clinics to prevent emergency departments being patients”.
Health chiefs and state and federal ministers met in Melbourne yesterday to coordinate their response to the crisis, which has killed 2814 people worldwide.
Since the Federal Government activated its pandemic emergency response plan on Thursday, the virus spread from 42 countries beyond mainland China to 49, with 82,704 cases confirmed.
Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said there was a “very strong likelihood” further cases would be diagnosed
“overrun with in Australia but there was currently no evidence of “community transmission” here.
Professor Murphy urged nara said she hoped it would demonstrate the diversity of cultures present in Geelong.
“This is our 38th year of Pako Festa,” Ms Lafornara said. “We hope it continues to grow by representing our local diversity.
“Be prepared for the sounds and smells of a variety of cultures.” people not to waste face masks as authorities stockpiled resources.
“While we are preparing
Road closures will be in place from 3am-11pm.
Some streets intersecting Pakington St are closed to all traffic including Waterloo St, Gordon Ave and Autumn St.
Limited accessible carparking is available at the rear of the Geelong West Town Hall in the Albert St carpark. and we’re realistic about what might come in future weeks, we’re not in a situation where anyone needs to be concerned,” he said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government would direct planning for the aged care system, with elderly people most vulnerable to the virus. The average age of those killed so far is about 71.
Mr Hunt said “rings of containment” were being considered, with patients initially isolated in hospitals and then nursing homes if the situation worsened.
Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly played down reports that almost everyone could eventually contract the virus, but said authorities were planning for several scenarios, including that it continued through winter “like the common cold or a flu virus”.
Prof Murphy said about 80 per cent of people diagnosed so far had experienced a “very, very mild disease”.
He said it was “very unusual” that few children had been sick.
Ms Mikakos said the Government would consider whether schools needed to be shut if the situation worsened.