ANALYSIS
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It was inevitable that a coronavirus case would be confirmed in the ACT.
But significantly, the first case appears to be one of community transmission within Australia and one with no known links to another virus patient. The man in his 30s had travelled interstate in the last two weeks, but not overseas.
This meant he did not technically meet the ACT guidelines for undertaking testing, clinicians only deciding to because he had a history of overseas travel.
It raises questions about the level of community transmission in Australia and in the ACT, and the effectiveness of current testing criteria. It also shows the rapidly evolving situation health authorities are dealing with, and the tough decisions they need to make.
It seems possible that if this man had not travelled, he would not have been tested, leaving open the question of how many people have the disease in the community undetected.
Of course it is not feasible to test every person who presents with cold or flu symptoms, so the testing regime rightly prioritises certain patients. But the clear community spread of the virus in Australia could mean the rigid protocols will need to adapt soon. And as doctors have preempted, the virus could spread so widely that most people are not tested through a lab, with the outbreak treated like a seasonal flu outbreak.
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Authorities are in an unenviable position of having to strike the right balance between protecting public health, avoiding public panic and managing resources. But the advice of clinicians and infectious disease experts must be at the centre of all significant decisions, including the cancellation of events and testing procedures.
There should be no delay in setting up dedicated coronavirus testing facilities and clinics in the ACT, if that is what doctors are calling for. While the Australian Medical Association has been strongly advocating for more streamlined testing facilities, on Thursday there was no clear timeframe for their introduction.
Given the spread of disease, the time will inevitably come, perhaps sooner than later, when our day to day lives are at the very least inconvenienced. This could include the cancellation of events or the closure of schools and workplaces. It's crucial the government maintains an open dialogue with the public and releases as much information as it can while protecting patients' privacy as much as possible.
While it is important to remember that evidence suggests most healthy people will easily recover from the virus, a failure to act appropriately will unfairly expose some of our community's most vulnerable to the greatest risk. Crucially, tough decisions in the coming days, weeks and months need to be led by experts and driven by facts.