scholarly journals Control of COVID-19 in Australia through quarantine: the role of special health accommodation (SHA) in New South Wales, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Fotheringham ◽  
Teresa Anderson ◽  
Miranda Shaw ◽  
Joseph Jewitt ◽  
Hannah Storey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Clinical Management ◽  
New South ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Returning Travellers ◽  
Special Health

Abstract Background The first COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in Australia on 25 January 2020. Initial epidiemiology showed that the majority of cases were in returned travellers from overseas. One aspect of Public Health response was to introduce compulsory 14 day quarantine for all travellers returning to New South Wales (NSW) by air or sea in Special Health Accommodation (SHA). We aim to outline the establishment of a specialised health quarantine accommodation service in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and describe the first month of COVID-19 screening. Methods The SHA was established with a comprehensive governance structure, remote clinical management through Royal Prince Alfred Virtual Hospital (rpavirtual) and site management with health care workers, NSW Police and accommodation staff. Results From 29 March to 29 April 2020, 373 returning travellers were admitted to the SHA from Sydney Airport. 88 (26.1%) of those swabbed were positive for SARS-CoV 2. The day of diagnosis of COVID-19 varied from Day 1 to Day 13, with 63.6% (n = 56) of these in the first week of quarantine. 50% of the people in the SHA were referred to rpavirtual for ongoing clinical management. Seven people required admission to hospital for ongoing clinical care. Conclusion The Public Health response to COVID-19 in Australia included early and increased case detection through testing, tracing of contacts of confirmed cases, social distancing and prohibition of gatherings. In addition to these measures, the introduction of mandated quarantine for travellers to Australia was integral to the successful containment of COVID-19 in NSW and Australia through the prevention of transmission locally and interstate from returning travellers.

scholarly journals Control of COVID-19 in Australia through quarantine: the role of Special Health Accommodation (SHA) in New South Wales, Australia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Fotheringham ◽  
Teresa Anderson ◽  
Ms Miranda Shaw ◽  
Joseph Jewitt ◽  
Ms Hannah Storey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Clinical Management ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The People ◽  
Remote Management ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Special Health

Abstract Background The first COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in Australia on 25 January 2020. Initial epidiemiology showed that the majority of cases were in returned travellers from overseas. One aspect of Public Health response was to introduce compulsory 14 day quarantine for all travellers returning to NSW by air or sea in Special Health Accommodation (SHA).MethodsThe SHA was established with a comprehensive governance structure, clinical management through rpavirtual hospital remote management and site management with health care workers, NSW Police and accommodation staff.Findings From 29 March to 29 April 2020, 373 returned travellers were admitted to the SHA from Sydney Airport. 88 (26.1%) of those swabbed were positive for SARS-CoV 2, 0.91% of all returning air travellers. The day of diagnosis of COVID-19 varied from Day 1 to Day 13, with 63.6% (n=56) of these in the first week of quarantine. 50% of the people in the SHA were referred to rpavirtual for ongoing clinical management. 7 patients required admission to hospital for ongoing clinical care.InterpretationThe Public Health response to COVID-19 in Australia included early and increased case detection through testing, tracing of contacts of confirmed cases, social distancing and prohibition of gatherings. In addition to these measures, the introduction of mandated self-quarantine for travellers to Australia was integral to the successful containment of COVID-19 in NSW and in Australia through the prevention of transmission locally and interstate from returning travellers.

scholarly journals Added Value of Genomic Surveillance of Virulence Factors in Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in New South Wales, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eby M. Sim ◽  
Ryan Kim ◽  
Mailie Gall ◽  
Alicia Arnott ◽  
Peter Howard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Uptake System ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
South Wales

The disease caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) remains a significant public health challenge globally, but the incidence of human STEC infections in Australia remains relatively low. This study examined the virulence characteristics and diversity of STEC isolates in the state of New South Wales between December 2017 and May 2020. Utilisation of both whole and core genome multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) allowed for the inference of genomic diversity and detection of isolates that were likely to be epidemiologically linked. The most common STEC serotype and stx subtype detected in this study were O157:H7 and stx1a, respectively. A genomic scan of other virulence factors present in STEC suggested interplay between iron uptake system and virulence factors that mediate either iron release or countermeasures against host defence that could result in a reduction of stx1a expression. This reduced expression of the dominant stx genotype could contribute to the reduced incidence of STEC-related illness in Australia. Genomic surveillance of STEC becomes an important part of public health response and ongoing interrogation of virulence factors in STEC offers additional insights for the public health risk assessment.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Australia: Epidemiology Report 25: Fortnightly reporting period ending 13 September 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

Cumulatively to 13 September there have been 26,753 case notifications and 674 deaths. The number of new cases reported nationally this fortnight was 764, a 61% decrease from the previous fortnight (1,948). On average this represented 55 cases diagnosed each day over the reporting period, a decrease from 125 cases per day over the previous reporting period. 84% of all cases (640/764) were reported in Victoria, with a smaller number of cases reported from New South Wales (95), Queensland (22), Western Australia (4) and South Australia (3). In Victoria, 97% of cases (621) were locally acquired and were mostly reported from residential aged care facilities; and 3% of cases (19) were reported as under investigation at the date of extract this reporting period. Excluding Victoria, 124 cases were reported nationally, 32% (40) were overseas acquired; 65% (81) were locally acquired, predominantly in New South Wales (62); and 2% (3) of cases were under investigation at this time, all reported in Queensland. The continued decrease in new cases observed this fortnight in Victoria is likely associated with the enhanced public health measures that are currently in place in Victoria. Locally-acquired cases which were predominantly associated with several interconnected clusters continued to be reported in New South Wales. In Queensland, 82% of cases (18/22) were reported as locally acquired from two clusters associated with immigration centres or correctional facilities. A total of 6 deaths were reported from cases diagnosed in this reporting period—all from Victoria, all aged 50 years or older, three male and three female. Although testing rates have declined gradually over the past month they remain high at 14.5 tests per 1,000 population per week. The overall positivity rate for the reporting period was 0.13%. Victoria reported a positivity rate of 0.39% for this reporting period while in all other jurisdictions the positivity rate was 0.05% or lower. For this report, “In focus” is paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-COV-2 (PIMS-TS). A review of Australia’s public health response to COVID-19 (as at 13 September 2020) is at Appendix A.

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