Highlights
- As at 6:00 am on 14 April 2020, there have been 6,366 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia.
- NSW has the most number of cases at 2870 in the country.
NSW Health on Tuesday announced it was prioritising its testing and surveillance for several areas including Penrith, Inner west, Liverpool, Randwick, Waverley, Woollahra, Blacktown, Cumberland, Westmead, Ryde, Manning and Lake Macquarie.
“These areas have been prioritised as they have a small number of cases of community transmission where the source has not been identified, however, NSW Health is asking anyone who is feeling unwell to be tested,” the authorities have said.
NSW Health has urged people who are feeling unwell with a cough or a fever, to get assessed by visiting one of the free , their local GP or their nearest hospital.
Follow SBS Hindi’s special coverage of COVID-19 outbreak
Dr. Manmeet Madan, GP Westmead Medical Centre Source: Supplied
“As a medical practitioner, my advice is simple: Follow the instructions given by the government,” Dr Madan told SBS Hindi.
“If you have any symptoms, remotely similar to COVID-19, you should get tested. The criteria have been expanded now. Anybody with symptoms can be tested and they do so by visiting one of the free COVID-19 clinics.
“The clinics are not crowded. You can simply walk-in and be assessed by a doctor or a nurse.
“We are now able to get results within a day. So if you are unwell and have any symptom, you should get tested especially if you are in one of these suburbs,” Dr Madan said.
Dr Madan has advised that taking action is most important.
“If you have symptoms, get tested, isolate quickly, make sure everyone who lives with you isolates as well. That is the only way to flatten the curve. We have done that, and it is important we keep doing it,” he said.
Find your nearest coronavirus clinic in NSW here
Healthcare workers administer COVID-19 tests at the Bondi Beach drive-through testing center on Monday. Source: Getty Images
NSW introduces COVID-19 pathology results via text message
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced that test results for COVID-19 tests are now available via a SMS.
“We are able to test 5,000 patients per day, and while testing for COVID-19 only takes 6 to 8 hours from arrival of the sample at one of our specialist labs, the sheer volume has meant we haven’t been able to get results to patients quickly,” Ms Berejiklian .
“Using our new statewide SMS notification solution, patients who register will receive an automated SMS test result within six hours of the completion of the laboratory test.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the new service puts the patient first, reducing anxiety as quickly as possible and making life easier for them.
“Testing clinics are receiving thousands of calls from patients enquiring about their test results, which also puts increasing pressure on the health system,” Mr Dominello said.
“By opting in to receive a text, patients can be informed of a negative result faster.”
More than 142,000 people have been tested and cleared in NSW so far.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor, don’t visit, or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
Disclaimer: We’d like to point out that the information contained in this segment is general and is not specific advice. If you would like accurate information relevant to your situation, you should consult a certified health practitioner.
