❓ Mr. Kirkup questions the Minister for Health on WA's coronavirus preparedness, specifically regarding testing protocols for travelers from various countries. The Minister responds, outlining expanded testing and emphasizing low risk, urging public calm.
AnsweredQoN 82Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS
82. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
To protect staff and patients, can
the minister confirm that Western Australian hospitals are looking to treat all
flu and respiratory illnesses as potential
coronavirus cases, and that there has now been a change in the clinical
definition for coronavirus treatment, which includes patients travelling
from Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and China?
82. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
To protect staff and patients, can
the minister confirm that Western Australian hospitals are looking to treat all
flu and respiratory illnesses as potential
coronavirus cases, and that there has now been a change in the clinical
definition for coronavirus treatment, which includes patients travelling
from Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and China?
AnswerView source ↗
As of this morning, the Department
of Health had run tests for coronavirus on 130 patients. I am very pleased
with, and in some respects quite proud of, the work they are doing and that I am
able to say that Western Australia remains coronavirus free. That is a great
result and a real testament to the vigilance of the Department of Health in the
work it is doing. That vigilance has to be maintained, and it is important that
while we remain very conscious of the threat of coronavirus from its
transmission in China, we also need to be aware what is going on in other
countries where there are second and third-generation transmissions. With that
said, we are continuing to monitor the situation. In the early days of the
virus outbreak, we were checking only those people who for some reason would
have come in contact directly or with people from Wuhan or Hubei province. That
was then expanded to all people travelling from mainland China. As a result of
the continued spread of the coronavirus, we are now looking to expand that
testing regime for all people travelling from the destinations mentioned by the
member for Dawesville, which are Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and
Singapore. I stress that this is not about people travelling from those areas
needing to self-isolate or that they represent a risk. It is important that all
members of Parliament maintain a level of
understanding and realistic observance of this particular issue, because we do
not want the public to misconstrue our messages and react unnecessarily.
I was very pleased to see the Premier yesterday having dinner at a local
Chinese restaurant with Madam Dong and the Minister for Tourism. That was a great
example to demonstrate to Western Australia that the risk is extremely low and
we are very well served.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, this
is serious.
Mr R.H. COOK : Consistent
with the transition to the new testing regime, a broader spectrum of people
will be tested. They will not need to self-isolate. It is simply that if they
present to a GP, a member of Border Force at the airport or an emergency
department and they have that collection of circumstances, we will test them.
They remain for all purposes coronavirus-free until tests prove otherwise.
of Health had run tests for coronavirus on 130 patients. I am very pleased
with, and in some respects quite proud of, the work they are doing and that I am
able to say that Western Australia remains coronavirus free. That is a great
result and a real testament to the vigilance of the Department of Health in the
work it is doing. That vigilance has to be maintained, and it is important that
while we remain very conscious of the threat of coronavirus from its
transmission in China, we also need to be aware what is going on in other
countries where there are second and third-generation transmissions. With that
said, we are continuing to monitor the situation. In the early days of the
virus outbreak, we were checking only those people who for some reason would
have come in contact directly or with people from Wuhan or Hubei province. That
was then expanded to all people travelling from mainland China. As a result of
the continued spread of the coronavirus, we are now looking to expand that
testing regime for all people travelling from the destinations mentioned by the
member for Dawesville, which are Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and
Singapore. I stress that this is not about people travelling from those areas
needing to self-isolate or that they represent a risk. It is important that all
members of Parliament maintain a level of
understanding and realistic observance of this particular issue, because we do
not want the public to misconstrue our messages and react unnecessarily.
I was very pleased to see the Premier yesterday having dinner at a local
Chinese restaurant with Madam Dong and the Minister for Tourism. That was a great
example to demonstrate to Western Australia that the risk is extremely low and
we are very well served.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, this
is serious.
Mr R.H. COOK : Consistent
with the transition to the new testing regime, a broader spectrum of people
will be tested. They will not need to self-isolate. It is simply that if they
present to a GP, a member of Border Force at the airport or an emergency
department and they have that collection of circumstances, we will test them.
They remain for all purposes coronavirus-free until tests prove otherwise.
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