CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK State’s testing times
QUEENSLAND Health is rationing coronavirus tests and temporarily halted the automatic testing of sick doctors and nurses.
As the federal government pushes Australian pharmaceutical companies to produce new mass tests, Queensland doctors have been ordered to stop testing sick patients unless they have been overseas or in contact with known carriers.
In a memo sent to medicos on Friday night, Queensland Health revealed doctors and nurses with a cold or flu symptoms, who previously were screened for coronavirus, would be sent home without testing.
Tests using the “gold standard’’ of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PMR), which detects the virus DNA, can only be given to patients with compromised immune systems, such as those with cancer or HIV.
“Full respiratory virus PCR testing should now only be requested in assessment of vulnerable immunocompromised patients,’’ the memo stated.
“COVID-19 testing, including healthcare workers, should only occur if they have fever OR respiratory symptoms AND travelled overseas within the previous 14 days OR had recent close contact with a confirmed case.’’
Doctors can also test patients with pneumonia – but only if they need to be admitted to hospital.
“Patients who present with cold and flu-like symptoms, who do not meet the above criteria, should NOT be tested for COVID-19,’’ the memo states.
“Health care workers who do not meet the criteria for testing should remain at home until their symptoms resolve, at which point they can return to work.’’
Queensland Heath backflipped last night, sending a new memo stating that health workers are to be tested if they have a fever over 37.5 degrees and respiratory symptoms.
Queensland Health is also urging “judicious use’’ of surgical masks, telling GP clinics and hospitals to limit the number of health workers dealing with COVID-19 cases.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said 230,000 extra masks had arrived yesterday.
He said Australia had carried out 30,000 COVID-19 tests and was negotiating with the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne to produce new types of “mass tests’’.
A Queensland Health spokesman said $890,000 had been spent to buy three new Hologic Panther Fusion instruments for testing.
“The additional instruments (at Toowoomba, Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast) will dramatically improve turnaround time,’’ he said.
INVESTMENT Group Mayfair 101 Group has temporarily suspended settlements of a select number of properties in the Mission Beach area in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis.
The “prudency measure” was in the best interests of the project and investors, the company said.
“We see the COVID-19 situation as a short hiatus,” Mayfair 101 Group managing director James Mawhinney said.
“On behalf of the Mayfair 101 Group, I reaffirm our full commitment to revitalising Mission Beach, Dunk Island and the surrounding region.
“Like every Australian, and every Australian business, we are witnessing the unprecedented impact of COVID-19.
“This impact is seeing most businesses re-evaluate business as usual operations and project time frames.
“The Mayfair 101 Group has decided to temporarily suspend settlements of a select number of properties while the COVID-19 chaos passes, as a prudency measure in the best interests of the project and our investors.”