Transparency will help prevent panic

THE Territory has had its first three people tested for the potentially fatal coronavirus, with all three tests coming back negative.

This is good news. It means Territorians are following health officials’ advice and getting tested if they’re concerned.

The three people tested all flew in on the Donghai Airlines flight from Shenzhen on Wednesday, the flight which Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis was also on.

Mr Vatskalis is listening to health advice. He’s staying home for two weeks, working from home and ensuring if he is carrying the virus, that he won’t get anyone else sick. Listening to health advice isn’t that hard.

According to NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie, all you need to do if you feel unwell is stay home, contact the national coronavirus telephone line and if you start to feel sicker, contact the emergency department.

There is no need to panic.

It is disappointing, however, that the NT and Federal Governments will not publicly share how or where evacuees from Wuhan, expected to be flown from the Chinese city to Darwin tonight (or early tomorrow) before continuing on to Christmas Island, will be processed by immigration.

Not sharing this information is causing concern in the community and on social media. A simple solution to stop a panic is to be more transparent and tell us what’s going on.

In the meantime, Territorians are urged not to worry and to contact health authorities if they start to feel unwell.