Coronavirus trial drug Remdesivir has been approved for use in Australia as Victoria registers 216 new cases overnight.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth welcomed the news for those suffering from "moderate to severe coronavirus disease" but said it was Australia's skilled doctors and nurses that was the best news. "We have amongst the world's leading intensivists; the world's leading critical care nurses.
We have worked to bolster their capacity through extra ventilators, through extra beds and through upskilling registered nurses," he said. "Given there are only 16 patients who are in ICU Australia-wide, we are well within that capacity. "We're satisfied the current stockpile in Australia will be enough for the coming weeks based on the numbers in Victoria at the moment.
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