More than 14,000 doctors and other healthcare workers have signed up to relieve overstretched hospitals battling coronavirus outbreaks
Visitors have been banned from the Royal Melbourne Hospital, except in rare circumstances, after the number of infected staff hit 12 on Tuesday with 64 healthcare workers furloughed.
Professor Wilson said the priority was using highly skilled doctors and nurses already working part-time or employed in quieter private hospitals who could easily shift into the public healthcare system. Australian Medical Association Victorian president Julian Rait, who is becoming increasingly worried about how the state's healthcare system would cope with a surge in clusters in hospitals, lauded the move.
There has been no evidence so far that misuse of personal protective equipment, such as face masks or gowns, had led to infections. “We don’t think the risk of that is very high at the moment,” he said. "We are definitely aware of it and monitoring it closely. We’ve got to balance that risk with the effects on the entire healthcare system. We know that a large number of nurses and doctors already do move around the system every day."
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Quick increase of COVID-19 cases in NSW a concern for health authorities | Sky News AustraliaAMA President Dr Tony Bartone says the quick increase of COVID-19 cases in Sydney is a significant concern for health authorities.\n\nThree household contacts of a man who attended a Sydney pub has tested positive to coronavirus, triggering fears of large-scale community transmission in NSW. \n\nTwo patrons who visited the Crossroads Hotel in Casula have been diagnosed after attending the venue last Friday night. \n\nThe recent outbreaks in NSW pose a worry considering the growing number of coronavirus cases in Victoria, with over 500 new cases appearing over the weekend alone. \n\nDr Bartone said abiding by the guidelines and measures which saw the nation through the first wave was the best way Australians could go about fighting the spread of the deadly virus while awaiting a possible vaccine. \n\n “Regardless of the development and time frame of the vaccine, we’re going to have to learn to live with COVID-19 in our community for many, many months and perhaps the best part of a year or more before the whole community can be immunised against COVID-19,” he said. \n\n“We’ve got to learn to live with the virus, respect its virulence, its power, its sneakiness, and never forget those key measures and guidelines which have gotten us through the first wave.”\n
Read more »
Qld begins human COVID-19 vaccine trials | Sky News AustraliaHuman trials are set to begin today for a COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Queensland. \n\nThe majority of 120 volunteers will reportedly receive two doses of the vaccine with the rest receiving a placebo. \n\nThe volunteers will be monitored for the next year and if successful the trial could be extended to thousands of Queensland residents and then made available as early as next year. \n\nThe Palaszczuk government contributed $10 million toward the trial with $5 million from the federal government. \n\nImage: AP
Read more »
Taxpayers rush ATO for early returns to cope with COVID-19 recessionAustralians have scrambled to get their hands on annual tax refunds, with a record number submitting returns early amid the nation's first recession in 30 years.
Read more »
ASX jumps on hope for COVID-19 drugAustralian shares jump in early trade, as markets ignore a spike in COVID-19 infections and, instead, focus their hopes on a drug to combat the virus.
Read more »
Report shows domestic violence surged during COVID-19 lockdowns | Sky News AustraliaDomestic violence has increased in frequency and severity during the coronavirus pandemic according to a new study by the Australian Institute of Criminology.\n\nAn online survey of 15,000 Australian women compared their experience of domestic violence in the six months before and after coronavirus lockdowns were implemented.\n\nMost women who suffered violence at the hands of their partner before February reported the violence became more frequent and severe when the lockdowns began.\n\nThe federal government announced an extra $3 million in funding for domestic violence services.\n
Read more »
Victorian COVID-19 catastrophe worsens as police issues $200,000 in fines | Sky News AustraliaDaniel Andrews says Victorians have been slapped with more than $200,000 in fines as the state records another 177 cases of the killer coronavirus. \n\nRemarkably, 31 fines had to be issued to brazen partygoers who tried to sneak into parties in the Melbourne CBD - coronavirus ground zero.\n\nOf the 177 new cases, 25 are connected to known outbreaks with one being in hotel quarantine.\n\nThere are 72 people in hospitals, with 17 of them in intensive care units.\n\nMr Andrews also said there were more than 22,000 people tested on Sunday alone.\n\nThere are currently 1,612 active COVID-19 cases in Victoria.\n
Read more »