Action For Patients Who Meet Criteria
The Department of Health will provide regular updates as more information on this situation becomes available.
Personal Protection
·
Place a surgical mask on
the patient
·
Place patient in isolated
room
·
Use standard plus contact
plus droplet precautions including
a disposable fluid resistant gown, gloves, surgical mask, and eye protection
while reviewing the patient
· Airborne
precautions, i.e. N95
mask and eye protection must also be used while collecting specimens.
|
Seek Advice
·
Immediately
contact your state/territory public health unit/communicable disease branch
if you encounter a suspected case.
|
If following discussion
it is decided that the patient does
not require hospitalisation:
·
The local public health
unit will provide advice on the exact specimens required for specialised
testing to identify whether the patient has novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), the
approved collection methods and equipment for collecting specimens and the
protocols for handling, storage and transport to correct laboratory
· As a general rule collection of all three
specimen types i.e., lower respiratory (sputum); upper respiratory
(nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs); and serum specimens for testing is
recommended for specialised testing
·
Also, request testing for
alternative causes including for other respiratory pathogens that might also
potentially explain the patient’s clinical presentation
· Request a chest x-ray if clinically warranted. Please call ahead to
notify radiology if this is a suspected case and ensure the patient is
masked.
|
If following discussion
it is decided that the patient does require
hospitalisation:
·
Arrange
transfer to the Isolation Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital via the
Emergency Ambulance Service. Please call ahead.
|