Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Mar 16^th, 2020 at 8:22am:



best thing  I am sure they monitor everyone coming and going where she is.....I am going to the doc this morning I thought I would have to go after hours as the coughing is getting worse   but she said NO...anyway might find out whats going on from a doctors view....

do we have to go some where to get tested or can the doctor do it now??.....I know nothing.

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Mar 16^th, 2020 at 8:22am:


Could be the worst place, Spot... those places can be deadly.  One for all - all for one.... the Three Musketeers of Infection.

cods wrote on Mar 16^th, 2020 at 8:27am:


From My Doctors cods (Canberra)

This is the first of a series of COVID-19 updates.  There are many non-COVID-19 viral illnesses circulating in Canberra and we understand this is causing concern.

The Chief Medical Officer has called for strict adherence to current testing criteria or we will overwhelm Australia's testing capacity. This means that we are not able to test everyone for COVID-19.

The criteria for determining when we can order a COVID-19 test change every few days.  We will provide updates of changes.  Currently, we can order a test in the following three cases:

1. Patients who have:

(a) have been travelling internationally in the 14 days before they started showing symptoms OR have been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the 14 days before showing symptoms; AND

(b) a fever OR an acute respiratory infection (e.g. shortness of breath, cough, sore throat) with or without fever.

2. Healthcare workers who have:

(a) direct contact with patients; AND

(b) acute respiratory symptoms (eg shortness of breath, sore throat, cough) AND a fever greater than or equal to 37.5 degrees, whether or not they have had recent international travel.

3. Patients who are critically ill with pneumonia (requiring hospital admission) where no cause has been identified, whether or not they have recent international travel.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever (88%), cough (68%), fatigue (38%), shortness of breath (18%), muscle or joint pain (15%), sore throat (14%), headache (14%), nausea or vomiting (5%), nasal congestion (5%) and diarrhoea (4%).  People will most commonly get symptoms around 5-7 days following exposure.

If you meet the testing criteria you can call YourGP on 6109 0000 to arrange to test. Please do not attend the practice as we want to keep it a safe place for patients, particularly our most vulnerable patients.

When you call, we will conduct a consultation via phone or internet web meeting and fax a test request to a participating pathology laboratory where you can attend for a swab. You must attend pathology wearing a mask. 

If you have a COVID-19 test, please wear a mask on your way home and do not use public transport, ride share or taxis.  You must isolate at home until you receive a negative result.  If you have a positive result we will contact you and give further instructions and support. 

Alternative testing is through the Walk-in Clinic at Weston Creek, 24 Parkinson St, Weston, which is open 7.30 am to 10 pm daily.
Please do not turn up for testing if you do not meet the above testing criteria.
We have been told anecdotally that waits are long (4+ hours) and that people are turned away after waiting in line if they are not considered eligible for testing.
We understand there will be further respiratory clinics set up for testing in Canberra.

Frequently asked questions.
1. I have had contact with someone now in quarantine, but who has not tested positive for COVID-19.  I now have symptoms of a cold.  Should I get tested?  No.  If that person in quarantine becomes symptomatic and tests positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for testing.
2. I have returned from overseas, should I quarantine myself?  Returned travellers who have travelled in, or transited through, mainland China, Iran, Italy or South Korea should self-quarantine at home for 14 days on return.  All other returned travellers who have undertaken international travel in the last 14 days should self-monitor for symptoms.  They should immediately isolate themselves and seek testing if they become unwell. 
3. I have had contact with someone who is now in quarantine, who has not tested positive for COVID-19, should I quarantine myself?  If they become symptomatic and test positive for COVID-19 then you may be asked to quarantine, depending on the type of contact, duration and timing of contact with them.  The infectious period of COVID-19 remains unknown, however, there is some evidence to support the occurrence of pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic transmission.  Precautionary approach cases are considered to be infectious 24 hours prior to the onset of symptoms.

cont.

Cough

Sophia wrote on Mar 16^th, 2020 at 9:21am:


From my observations, the morons panic-buying toilet paper and baked beans probably don't even know that the fresh food section exists.

I'd suggest that beer, corn chips, and salsa dip is their idea of a three-course meal.

greggerypeccary wrote on Mar 16^th, 2020 at 9:24am:


Ummmmm - beer!

The mosquitos have been swarming lately in town. People had been buying up mosquito coils and other insect repellent. I got a couple of mosquito coil packets tonight on my grocery shop. I did note that lemongrass body scrub has helped in reducing the number of mosquito bites I received. My Peaceful Nights mosquito zapper plugins have been doing wonders. But I have noticed that my electrical outlets have differing power outputs. So, my plugins are having little effect on some areas of the house and considerable effect on others.

I did mention that I bought an 8-pack of toilet paper the other week. 8pm at night and no one else around. The shelves were modestly stocked. I bought a pack to last me the rest of the year.

I stocked up on some citronella tea light candles for the toilet room. A large citronella candle for downstairs during the really cold nights. Last year, we had a dengue fever plague. People were buying up coils and whatever they could to ward off the mosquitos. I made a home-made mosquito burner. I lit it downstairs in a drafty, yet enclosed, part of downstairs. It actually kept upstairs that little bit warmer, whilst it killed off the mosquitos anywhere near downstairs.

The price of food was up this week. Perhaps there is a bit of price gouging. Or the farmers were unable to produce enough this year. I had my first $300 grocery spend this year. A normal shop would be about $150. I doubt the extras I got this week amounted to more than $100.

At least petrol prices have come down a little.