A Southern Highlands Doctor has referenced a social media meme to reiterate the importance of staying firm on rules in the fight against COVID-19.
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Southern Highlands Division of General Practice spokesman Dr Vince Roche said the meme that has been doing the rounds "reflects my feelings a very appropriate analogy."
It goes like this:
THE CURVE IS FLATTENING AND WE CAN START LIFTING RESTRICTIONS NOW = THE PARACHUTE HAS SLOWED OUR RATE OF DESCENT, SO WE CAN TAKE IT OFF NOW!
Dr Roche said that while the good news continued as far as the growth of cases was concerned across the Wingecarribee Shire and the nation the fight was not over.
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He said NSW Health and the South West Sydney Public Health Unit have provided fresh figures up to 8pm on April 18, showing infections in the Wingecarribee have remained static for the last 12 days.
"Once more no rise in the Wingecarribee and very modest increases in our State and National new cases," he said.
"So is there any bad news?
"There is a sense of palpable relief that Australia has dodged a bullet.
"My gut feeling is that many of us feel that we have conquered Covid here in Australia, and are ready to resume our pre-Covid lives.
"The economic and jobs stress is now more the subject of nine out of 10 media reports than the lives saved."
Dr Roche said the parachute analogy summed up his concerns on this.
He said we need to keep up what we are currently doing.
The latest details for the Wingecarribee are:
- Number of positive cases: 23 same for last 12 days brilliant!
- Proportion under age 55: half
- Proportion or no of positives due to overseas travel/cruise ships/known contacts: almost all (exact numbers are confidential)
- Number of local cases who have required admission to hospital: - two (but not admitted to Bowral Hospital) (recent: a previously diagnosed patient who was in quarantine at home but deteriorated enough to require admission to a SWSLHD hospital)
- Number of resolved cases: approximately 50% (based on SWS data rather than Wingecarribee data)
- Number of community acquired cases in the Highlands: - nil
- Number of health care workers in Southern Highlands with CV19: - nil
- Number of at risk communities in Southern Highlands (eg nursing homes, boarding schools, indigenous communities) of concern as CV19 Hotspot: - nil
- Number of local cases by postcode: 2575 eight; 2576 nine; 2577 five; 2578 one; 2579 none.
- South West Sydney data (not just Wingecarribee) : number of infected patients 237, number of infected patients in hospital 13, number in home isolation: 91, no in ICU 5, no of deaths 3, no of recovered patients 126
Community Advice
Flu Vaccination: General Practices now have their first batch of flu vaccines in stock and are hoping for their second delivery this week.
Dr Roche said this is highly recommended "as we still have the usual influenza bugs circulating and people weakened by the flu are a sitting target for a severe dose of COVID-19."
"This is a good year to have one. But no dunny-roll behaviour please," he said.
"Make sure the old folk get theirs first. But do not wait weeks or months.
"If you dont normally have a flu vaccine this is the year to do it!
"And if your GP Clinic is out of vaccine it is not their fault please do not abuse the staff the Public Health Unit gives it to the General Practices as soon as they get the vaccines from the manufacturers."
Flu Assessment Clinic Hours of Business
- Weekdays: 10am to 5.30pm.
- Weekends: 10:30am to 3pm
- Phone No: 4861 0145
Dr Roche said the Flu Assessment Clinic continued to run smoothly.
"Locals are reminded that only people who meet the NSW Health Guidelines will be screened dont just rock up because you are anxious," he said.
"We recommend all people who feel that they need to be screened should talk to their GP by telephone first.
"People do not require a referral from their GP to attend the BDH Flu Assessment Clinic, but they prefer GP Clinics do the first line of triage.
"Screening criteria are changing often day-by-day and General Practices are trying to stay up to date with these changes that are inevitable as the epidemic progresses.
"As the epidemic progresses into the next phase community transmission GPs are doing more testing for Covid19 to test any members of the public with a fever or respiratory symptoms, and especially any Health Care or Aged Care workers with a fever or respiratory symptoms."
The direct phone number for the flu clinic is 4861 0145 and enquiries will be answered during hours of operation only.
Bowral Hospital:
All staff and visitors to the hospital are being screened for infection risk with a questionnaire and a temperature test as they enter the hospital.
NEW: Limit is one visitor per patients and the new restricted visiting hours are 10am-11am, and 4:30pm to 5:30pm.
The only entrance to the hospital for staff and visitors is via the Milton Park Front Door.
GP Clinic Staff: These staff also deserve protection from possible infectious patients we advise all people to call their clinic to make appointments and be triaged before their arrival at the reception desk.
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