Australia records first native COVID-19 case in 14 days
13 March, 2021
Australia on Saturday (Mar 13) recorded the first hometown COVID-19 case in more than two weeks after a health care provider tested great for the coronavirus, triggering restrictions in area hospitals.
Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the unnamed doctor the other day treated two patients who had recently returned to Australia and had tested great for the UK variant.
"We realize this doctor, who assessed both of these COVID-confident patients was at a healthcare facility at the time. Nowadays, she produced symptoms," Palaszczuk informed reporters in the status capital, Brisbane. It was Australia's first local infection since Feb 24.
The physician, whose name had not been released, treated patients, forcing authorities into urgent contact-tracing, Palaszczuk said. The authorities have but to determine how many people the doctor treated.
As officials seek to look for the size of the outbreak, Palaszczuk said, almost all hospitals in the express capital will get closed to visitors.
Australia has reported just over 29,000 coronavirus infections and 909 COVID-19 deaths, far fewer than many developed countries, helped by international border closures, lockdowns and strict social-distancing rules.
In neighbouring New Zealand, Primary Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday the united states will reopen its borders for the very first time to allow residents of Niue, a little Pacific country, to enter.
They will not have to quarantine on the arrival from Mar 24, Arden said.
"Niue does not have any reported cases of COVID-19 and its stringent border controls mean we can be confident it is safe and sound to commence quarantine-free happen to be New Zealand from Niue," Ardern said in an emailed statement.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com