PM unveils strategy to battle virus
AGED care homes will be fortified to protect vulnerable seniors under a $2.4 billion, multi-pronged, health injection aimed at bracing Australia for its predicted coronavirus peak outbreak from May.
The Morrison Government will today unveil its health response to the looming crisis, including 100 new fever popup clinics, free doctor consults by video and phone for isolated patients and a $30 million national coronavirus awareness campaign.
Cabinet also ticked off new measures to prepare the aged care workforce and seniors which will be announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison today. The Government’s economic response – including wage subsidies, tax breaks for businesses and grants – will be unveiled tomorrow.
A major public health campaign will be launched within days, including a coronavirus app. The pop-up clinics will be able to handle 75 patients a day for six months.
The significant health spending is separate to the multibillion-dollar economic stimulus flagged by the government, which is expected to include support for small business.
“Our medical experts have been preparing for an event like this for years and this is the next step up in Australia’s plan,” Mr Morrison said.
Fears are gripping the aged care sector about the impact an outbreak could have on nursing home residents and home care – plus the workforce – with the death rates for people in their 70s at 8 per cent. For those aged over 80, it is more than 20 per cent.
A significant proportion of workers in the aged care sector are casuals. As well as boosting medical supplies such as face masks, it is understood extra cash could help increase the number of hours worked by some staff.
The new health measures come as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia reached 103, including three cases confirmed in Queensland last night.
Medical experts predict the peak period for infections in Australia will run from May to July. But the nation’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy flagged that the 14-day self-isolation period was under review and could be reduced, which he said would “significantly help” if possible. Prof Murphy also signalled yesterday that mass gatherings could be cancelled if there were a heightened number of personto-person transmissions.
“If we had more sustained community transmission then we wouldn’t hesitate to make recommendations about schools and the like,’’ he said.
Mr Morrison warned there would be both labour shortages and job losses, urging big business to be “team Australia” and keep workers on throughout the crisis.
The 100 pop-up fever clinics established as part of the government’s $2.4 billion health package will be used to test people who are concerned they may have the virus.
It will prevent them from clogging up emergency rooms, freeing hospitals to deal with more severe cases. The clinics will be staffed by GPs and nurses, with the exact locations now being discussed with medical bodies.
Thirty-one primary health networks will get $300,000 to help identify and set up the pop up clinic sites and distribute protective equipment.
From Friday, free telehealth services will be made available to try and limit the spread of the virus, at a cost of $100 million.
It will be for people isolated at a doctor’s orders, those aged over 70, indigenous Australians aged over 50, pregnant women, parents with babies and immunocompromised people.
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