The Victorian healthcare worker didn’t find out the man she treated had the virus after a week later, after which she’d already made multiple visits to many other homes.
The 58-year-old told the ABC she fears the lengthy delay between her first patient’s positive diagnosis and her receiving the test could have put others in the community at risk.
“I have been in people’s homes every day – vulnerable people in society. Elderly people, people with lots of co-morbidities and lots of health issues,” she said.
It comes as Australia records 4514 cases of coronavirus with 19 deaths.
As of Tuesday morning there were 2032 in NSW, 917 in Victoria, 917 in Queensland, 305 in South Australia, 355 in Western Australia, 69 in Tasmania, 78 in the Australian Capital Territory and 15 in the Northern Territory.
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Globally, there have been nearly 740,000 cases of the disease recorded with more than 35,000 deaths. The US and Europe are now the epicentre of the outbreak, which began in mainland China in late December 2019.
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An in-home nurse fears she may have infected up to 40 people with coronavirus after treating a positive patient without protective gear.
The Victorian healthcare worker didn’t find out the man she treated had the virus after a week later, after which she’d already made multiple visits to many other homes.
The 58-year-old told the ABC she fears the lengthy delay between her first patient’s positive diagnosis and her receiving the test could have put others in the community at risk.
“I have been in people's homes every day – vulnerable people in society. Elderly people, people with lots of co-morbidities and lots of health issues,” she said.
The woman said she visited the man to change a dressing and noticed he was suffering respiratory problems. She immediately called emergency services.
Paramedics arrived in full hazmat suits to take the man to hospital, but because she wasn’t showing symptoms, the nurse was not allowed to be tested.
Instead, she has been told to self-isolate, and now does not know if she has the virus or if she potentially passed it onto anyone else.
"The criteria (for testing) are quite strict at the moment and they said unless I'm showing symptoms just go home and isolate," she said.
"If I am positive, by the time they then find those people it's weeks after the fact, so how many others have been in contact [with them] in the interim?
"It's just ludicrous."
The Australian College of Nursing has slammed the lack of support for health workers.
Yesterday it released a statement calling for greater protections and more protective equipment.
"Thousands of nurses on health’s frontline are being put at risk every minute of every day as they care for Australians during the COVID-19 crisis due to the Government’s failure to provide them with access to personal protective equipment (PPE)," it said.
”With Australians being asked to stay at home and avoid going to hospitals if possible, we need these dedicated nurses more than ever. It is appalling that they have been overlooked when it comes to provision of PPE."
NSW attorney general, Mark Speakman, has spoken about the dangers of domestic violence during this period of social distancing.
He said the state is taking domestic violence issues very seriously during the coronavirus crisis, given how many people may be trapped in isolation with their abuser.
He noted there has been a 30 per cent increase in liquor store sales in NSW, which could account for heightened domestic and family violence fears.
55 new confirmed cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Queensland, bringing the state's total to 743.
This is up on the previous two days when the cases were in the low 30s.
The state Department of Health has contacted 50,000 people relating to that 743, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed.
"So an enormous effort. You can see that Health is doing everything they possibly can," she said.
Of these cases, 65 are now in hospital, seven in intensive care and five on a ventilator.
Queensland has issued more than 40,000 orders to self isolate.
The government also announced a public health alert for a wrestling competition at the PCYC in Cairns on the 14th March.
Anyone who has become unwell in the two weeks since attending that event has been asked to see a doctor.
Victoria has reported 96 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, taking the state's total to 917.
Virgin Australia has gone into a trading halt while seeking a $1.4 billion loan rescue package to ensure its survival after the COVID-19 crisis is over.
According to The Australian, Virgin chief executive Paul Scurrah put a proposal to the government last week that would see it take an ownership stake in the company if it was unable to repay the loan within two to three years.
Victoria has issued its first infringement to a licensed bar in Melbourne that failed to comply with new coronavirus measures.
Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said a business in Fitzroy had been fined $9913 for remaining "open for business", noting six staff were working and alcohol was being served to two patrons.
"As a result of that, yesterday the company director in charge of that was issued with a fine," he said.
It was the first fine to be issued to a business since Victoria's stage 3 restrictions came into effect.
He also said authorities are open to imposing harsher penalties on anyone who has a confirmed COVID-19 case and continues to go into the community.
He said offenders could receive up to ten years in prison if the stricter penalties are brought in.
Recreational and sporting shooters will no longer be able to buy ammunition and firearms until the COVID-19 emergency is over.
Police said applications for ammunition and permits have doubled in the past week, which led to the crackdown.
"There was no legitimate need for this attempt at stockpiling, so we're nipping it in the bud right now," said Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton.
He noted over 2000 applications have been received in the past week, compared to around 1000 or less on an average week.
Tasmania has recorded its second COVID-19 death, with an elderly man dying in the Royal Hobart Hospital overnight.
"This is a very sad time," said Premier Peter Gutwein. "This is two deaths in Tasmania, two deaths too many, and it serves as a warning to us all that these are going to be tough and difficult times and we must all do our part to keep Tasmania safe."
The state now has 69 confirmed cases of the virus, with 19 deaths around the country.
People in Sydney's east have been snapped continuing to flout the social distancing rules in NSW this morning.
Picture: John Grainger
Picture: John Grainger
In another shot, a Bondi lifeguard can be seen removing surfers from Tamarama Beach.
Picture: John Grainger
As of this morning, over 113,000 businesses have registered their interest in the new JobKeeper wage subsidy.
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