News
Thousands of doctors call for lockdown
But the RACGP and Australia’s Chief Medical Officer say the coronavirus response must be sustainable.
Thousands of doctors across Australia have signed open letters and petitions calling for more drastic lockdown measures to reduce the chance of an Italy-style coronavirus catastrophe.
Two separate petitions are circulating, calling on the Federal Government to act more quickly to get on top of the coronavirus crisis by taking actions like closing schools.
But RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon has questioned claims that public health measures are being introduced too slowly, pointing to the recent flow of stronger measures such as reducing group gatherings and mandatory self-quarantine measures for new arrivals into Australia.
‘We believe we should be following the advice of medical leaders and the Government. We need a central health policy and we should be following that advice,’ Dr Nespolon said on ABC Radio National.
His comments come as Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said that a short-term shutdown of society would ‘not achieve anything’.
‘A short-term two-to-four week shutdown of society is not recommended by any of our experts,’ he said.
‘As the Prime Minister said, it could be six months or more that we have to practice these new ways of interacting. So therefore, our measures have to be sustainable.’
The RACGP’s position is backed by the Australian Medical Association (AMA), which has also thrown its weight behind the Government’s staggered approach to public health measures.
‘The AMA do not believe that the actions proposed in the letter are necessary yet,’ it said in a statement to the ABC.
‘Professor Brendan Murphy ... will provide advice on these matters at the appropriate time, based on the best available medical evidence.’
More than 2000 people have signed Perth GP Dr Hemant Garg’s letter to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, which calls for an immediate closure of schools, pubs, places of worship, gyms, cinemas, etc.
‘This would allow a steady declaration of cases of coronavirus to present to hospitals and fever clinics as their symptomatic phase develops,’ his letter states.
More than 5000 people have signed intensive care specialist Dr Greg Kelly’s letter, which argues that Australia’s demographics are more similar to Italy than China, with a higher proportion of older people.
Italy’s death rate has been double that of China’s, at almost 8% versus 4%, according to the latest figures. That may be in part due to Italy’s older population.
Dr Kelly argues that Australia could see rapid growth in cases within weeks, potentially overwhelming the health system.
The letter calls on Australia to follow China, Singapore, Korea and Taiwan, which have been very effective in reducing or ending the epidemic though hardline social distancing and contact-tracing methods.
While experts have described Australia’s initial response as slow and characterised by mixed messages, public health measures are now being implemented in rapid fashion, with recent calls for overseas Australians to return home if possible, and for all Australians to avoid travel overseas.
New restrictions on visiting aged care homes have been also introduced in a bid to prevent the virus from gaining access to the most vulnerable group in society.
The RACGP has more information on coronavirus available on its website.
Log in below to join the conversation.
coronavirus pandemic public health social distancing
newsGP weekly poll
What do you think is most needed to improve ADHD diagnosis and management?