Eight of the evacuees from the Diamond Princess have been diagnosed with new pneumonia. (Photo by the Daily Mail)
A second confirmed case of the new coronavirus, a 79-year-old woman from the Diamond Princess, has emerged in Western Australia today.
The old woman flew from the Diamond Princess to Irvine last week. Her husband had been tested positive for the new coronavirus.
After her 78-year-old husband`s diagnosis, the couple were taken back to Perth on Friday by a plane from the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Male patients then went to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for isolation treatment. The woman did not show symptoms, but was placed in hospital for 14 days in order to prevent the disease.
Chief Western Australia medical officer Andrew Robertson said this afternoon that she was also tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The man has now been quarantined in the intensive care unit of Sir Charles Geldner Hospital.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed today that the Aussie, who was diagnosed with new crown pneumonia, suffered a serious condition during treatment in Western Australia.
Speaking to Radio 2GB this morning, Mr Morrison said:" We have been informed today that one of them in Western Australia is in a more serious condition. But in the rest of society, we can still live and work as usual. "
The man`s wife is now being treated in the hospital`s negative-pressure ward and is considered stable.
As of 5:30 p.m. today, the number of confirmed cases in Australia had increased to 24. Nine patients were from the "Princess Diamond ", of which three were in Victoria and Queensland, two in Western Australia and one in South Australia. All personnel have been referred to their home states for treatment.
Earlier diagnoses of 15 patients from China have recovered.
Howard springs staff "fully armed" to meet the diamond princess evacuees. (Photo by the Daily Mail)
Morrison also told Radio 2GB today that Australia is not ready to avoid the new corona virus. "Unlike the previous SARS and the Middle East respiratory syndrome epidemic, its performance is very different. The ways in which they pass on people are much more diverse than we have seen. The virus itself is not as serious as SARS, but it is taking more lives. We can`t survive this, but we`re all set. "
Morrison also said the new virus was more lethal than the flu, but urged Australians to follow "normal rules ".
Australia Launch Emergency Response Plan
Australia`s prime minister, mr morrison, yesterday announced an extension of his travel ban and a contingency plan for a new outbreak. (Photo by the Aussies)
Yesterday afternoon, Morrison, ahead of the World Health Organisation, announced a contingency plan to respond to the new pandemic.
"There are indications that the world will soon enter the stage of a pandemic. "We believe that the global pandemic that we are facing is huge," he told the media. So as government, we need to take the necessary steps to prepare for the pandemic. "
In the event of an outbreak in australia like iran, italy, japan and south korea, the government`s emergency response plan would give federal and state-level government a wide-ranging authority to curb the virus. Morrison says government is starting preparations for setting up fever clinics, blocking livea retired life homes and increasing medical reserves.
He also reminded the australians to prepare for a new pandemic of the corona virus at the moment of government`s contingency plan.
As the health crisis escalated, the prime minister noted the "considerable economic impact" on australia, saying it would implement the treasury stimulus package to support the affected industries.
Morrison held a three-hour meeting of the cabinet`s National Security Council yesterday morning, saying Treasury Secretary Josh Frydenberg and Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy were working on a "targeted, moderate and adjustable" economic strategy.
In response to a week-long extension of foreign citizen`s travel ban from china to australia, mr morrison said australia`s government was looking at options to bolster the tourism, education, shipbuilding and export sectors, as well as the best way to tackle "broken supply chains ".
The Prime Minister also said states and territories need to fill all gaps in their epidemic plans and step up preparations for possible community outbreaks. Health minister Hunt will meet with state and territory peers today to determine the role of federal and state-level government when the pandemic strikes Australia.
"In terms of medical reserves, personal protective equipment, the supply chain and, in particular, personnel, we are carrying out various related tasks. We attach the utmost importance to the fact that if there is a surge in our hospital and medical systems, we should ensure that we are adequately staffed. "said Hunter.
University students not exempted from travel ban
Australian government has not exempted travel bans from chinese university students. (Photo of No.9)
The contingency plan provides states and territories with action plans on how to respond to the new pandemic.
The content of the emergency response will be expanded as the epidemic spreads. In the worst-case scenario, large cases will be eliminated; people will have to work at home; elective surgery will be suspended; the number of intensive care beds will increase; livearetedlife hospital closures; and childcare centers will be closed.
During its implementation, health minister hang, education minister tehan and internal affairs minister dutton will be given more authority to coordinate efforts at all levels of governance to curb the pandemic.
Additional flights from multiple countries will be inspected at the airport. Authorities will also develop contingency plans for livearetedlife, including a blockade in the event of an outbreak. At the same time, government will prepare medical reserves for the pandemic and will do its utmost to ensure that medical professionals have the necessary protective equipment.
Despite pressure from universities to allow some Chinese students to enter Australia, Mr Morrison said there would be no "exception" to the week`s travel ban that the National Security Council had granted an extension.
Morrison`s social app To cross the border
(Photo by Morrison Social app Public)
This afternoon, mr morrison published a chinese article on the launch of the global pandemic response on his official social app public platform.
He said Australia was "proactive and responsive to the coronavirus" and "will remain ahead to ensure the safety of the Australian population ". The launch of the global pandemic response is aimed at ensuring that Australia is fully prepared for the arrival of the virus.
Mr Morrison also referred to measures to extend the travel ban:" Current travel restrictions on people from China to Australia are still in effect. Restrictions are still available to australia`s citizen and permanent residents. we will continue to reassess these arrangements weekly. "
At the end of the article, the Prime Minister issued a call to the Australians:" If we make a concerted effort, we will be able to tide over the difficulties together. "
Expert: Everyone is afraid of infection
At the same time that australia`s prime minister, mr morrison, has launched a pandemic plan ahead of international health agencies, a well-known australian virologist declared that everyone will end up with a new coronavirus, but most will not have more symptoms than a cold.
Ian Mackay, a professor at the University of Queensland, said:`It is unrealistic to now expect the 2019 new crown virus to be controlled, with countries preparing for how to deal with the massive number of emerging cases.
"The virus doesn`t look like it`s going to go back into the cage, so it`s likely to be what we call a endemic virus, or a lifelong one. "We have four of these coronaviruses, most of which cause colds, and we have people who get them every year," McCain said. They are peaking in the winter, but still spread between us at other times throughout the year. So this is likely to be one of them. "
If so, he said," at some point in the next few months or years, we`ll all be infected."
