COVID-19 (coronavirus) update

The coronavirus epidemic has caused considerable panic and the information provided to health care workers has been sporadic and at times inconsistent. However, the recent update from Dr Brendan Murphy, federal chief medical officer, has been very helpful. The virus has currently infected 110,000 people world-wide with the numbers expected to grow. However, the overwhelming majority of cases the virus causes a mild respiratory illness and children seem to be carriers rather than have symptoms. The elderly and/or people with medical co-morbidities such as diabetes, emphysema, hypertension and heart disease are at risk of developing severe respiratory symptoms that may require hospitalisation. The mortality rate for patients over 65 who contract the virus is currently around 11%. Dr Murphy states the Department of Health is not advocating for all persons with mild cold and flu symptoms to be tested for coronavirus.

South East Orthopaedic Surgery is continuing to operate with a 'business as usual' approach, however we do request the following:

Please DO NOT attend the practice if:

you have a temperature

AND/OR​

you have an upper respiratory tract infection (with or without a temperature) AND have travelled overseas in the last 14 days

AND/OR​

you have had close contact with someone confirmed to have a COVID-19 infection in the last 14 days

We are more than happy to reschedule your appointment to a more convenient time.

Please call ahead to discuss your symptoms with our administration staff if you have any questions. If you have further questions about the coronavirus, your symptoms or whether your require testing, please contact the COVID-19 hotline on 1800 020 080