CHO Health Alert - 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) 16 February 2020

Status: Active

Date issued: 16 February 2020 (Update to Alert issued 11 February 2020)

Issued by: Dr Brett Sutton, Chief Health Officer, Victoria

Issued to: Clinicians and the Victorian public  

Key messages

  • Novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019) has been officially named by the World Health Organization and is now known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • The Guideline for Health Services and General Practitioners has been updated (Version 7) since the last Chief Health Officer Alert of 11 February.
  • A person under investigation category has been added to the case definition which captures new countries for consideration of testing. Clarification of casual healthcare worker contact information has also been added. 
  • It remains critical that clinicians identify cases, and notify the department on 1300 651 160, 24 hours. Be alert for cases, take a travel history and advise persons under investigation and suspected cases to isolate until you provide the result to your patient.
  • People who have been in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong SAR, Macau and Taiwan) in the past 14 days are advised to self-isolate until 14 days after leaving China.
  • There is no requirement for people from the other countries recommended for testing to self-isolate if they are well.
  • Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 should also stay at home and avoid public settings until 14 days after their last contact.
  • The department has confirmed four cases of novel coronavirus in Victoria.
  • Stay informed of updates at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/novelcoronavirus

Read the full alert: 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

 

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.