A New South Wales resident from Goulburn has been detected with coronavirus and is currently in isolation in Darwin.
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The 52-year-old male had returned from Singapore on February 28 on a Qantas flight QF02 and subsequently travelled to Darwin from Sydney on March 3 on the QF840 flight.
His movements between February 28 and March 3 are unknown at this stage.
The Post has asked NSW Health several times for details of the man's whereabouts between those dates, but is yet to receive a response.
"He was travelling with a companion to Darwin and after his arrival he was advised his travel companion had coronavirus," a NT Health spokesperson said.
"He immediately self isolated and contacted health authorities."
"He was tested at a local GP where all the precautions were taken, and otherwise remained in his hotel room until the test results were confirmed, at which point he drove himself to Royal Darwin Hospital, where he was met by the Public Health Unit and admitted and remains in isolation."
After his arrival to Darwin, he drove to the Woolworths complex in Darwin CBD and later checked into his accommodation at the Ramada on Wyndham.
The case was detected on March 4 and is the first confirmed case in the Northern Territory.
The Top End Health Service Public Health Unit is tracking and contacting passengers who could have come in close contact with the man and were on the same flight with him, in the same accommodation and could have been and visited the Woolworths complex.
People who were on the flight, staying at the accommodation or who visited the Woolworths complex are advised to monitor their health. They are not required to self-isolate or get tested unless they develop any respiratory symptoms.
The contacts and movements of the latest cases are being established.
This brings the total number of cases detected in NSW to 26.
WHO suggests that the virus can cause mild, flu-like symptoms as well as more severe disease.
Patients have a range of symptoms: fever (83-98%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (19-35%), based on the latest data.
Based on current data, 81% of cases seem to have mild disease, about 14% appear to progress to severe disease, and some 5% are critical.
Risk factors for severe disease are older age and comorbidities.
According to the World Health Organisation, a total of 95,265 have been reported cases of COVID-19 globally. Of those, 3281 people have died.
A total of 43 reported cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, as of March 3, and one of those has resulted in a death.
It was a 95-year-old resident at a Macquarie Park aged-care facility who died on Tuesday.
If you are unwell call ahead before visiting your GP or call healthdirect for advice on 1800 022 222. GPs can arrange for COVID-19 testing, or if you are very unwell, you can also call ahead before attending your local emergency department for assessment.
More to follow.
COVID-19 is a newly discovered virus and symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose sore throat or shortness of breath.
It can be spread from person to person, most likely by coughing or contact with respiratory secretions of people infected with the virus.
The best way to protect yourself and your family is to practice good hygiene by:
- Making sure to clean your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or a flexed elbow
- Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
- Make sure you stay home if you are sick
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