Good afternoon everyone. I'm here to give you the regular update in relation to
the novel human coronavirus infection. Currently the number of
confirmed cases in New South Wales remain at four with no new cases
identified since Tuesday. We discharged two patients on the 29th of January and
the case close contacts of the cases are being monitored by the Public Health
Unit for those 14 days since their last exposure and to date we haven't
identified any cases of coronavirus infection in the contacts. There's
currently 16 new cases under investigation 10 men, 6 women, age range 3
to 74 years and all of these patients are in isolation whilst awaiting test
results. So since testing began we have tested 67
patients have tested negative and so have been ruled out including the 17
cases yesterday so as you've seen the case numbers coming forward to testing
have remained high and that's very pleasing that our messages around coming
forward if you develop respiratory symptoms after you have traveled to
China in particular, focusing on the Wubei Province, but also if you've
been a close contact of a confirmed case. Thank you i'll have happy to take
questions.
We're actually having a webinar this afternoon with our expert
virologist. The thinking as of a couple of days ago was that the origin may well
have been bats and that it's transitioned through another mammalian
species and then acquired the ability to have infect humans, but obviously this is
subject to a lot of international speculation and I'll be keen to be
updated on any of that this evening.
I think you're referring to the Victorian Infectious Disease Laboratory in
Victoria. They are the reference laboratory and as
we've been undertaking testing we've actually been sending in the early days
a number of the tests down so that we could validate with the across the two
laboratories it's pleasing to note that they have cultured the virus and in our
laboratories will be undertaking further testing on samples we have as well.
It adds to scientific knowledge, I suspect there's other investigations
also being undertaken, so all of this information is rapidly shared and is
used internationally in informing our response.
Look I have to follow that up
and provide, normally we work very collaboratively across states where
information around our residence is shared so I will follow up after this
conference.
At this stage I I think you're referring to the Commonwealth
Initiative to repatriate people from Wuhan in that case I haven't got any
update we haven't been provided with information about how many New South
Wales residents would have stepped up or come forward for that evacuation
New South Wales and all over the states and territories in the Commonwealth have been following
the plans that we have in place. It doesn't make a significant difference to
our approach but clearly highlights the importance and the need for us to be
vigilant, take a precautionary approach as we better understand how this virus
is going to progress
you