Cancel celebrations over spread of virus concerns
AS health authorities continue to clear more suspected cases of the infectious novel coronavirus each day, the Canterbury Bankstown Council opted to take a cautious approach by cancelling last Thursday’s Lunar New Year celebrations in Campsie.
A council spokesperson said the event was cancelled “in light of recent health concerns”.
“The City is proactive and invested in the health and wellbeing of the public,” she said.
Three of the four people with confirmed novel coronavirus infections in NSW, have now left hospital with a further 170 suspected cases testing negative, although 29 people remain in isolation awaiting their test results.
A NSW Health spokesperson said two men aged 53 and 35, and a 21-year-old woman who were in hospital after testing positive to the virus, have already been discharged, however one patient, a 43-year-old man, remains under medical care in hospital.
State Opposition Leader Jodi McKay warned on Friday that this “was not the time misinformation or for anyone to use the health emergency to discredit the Chinese Australian community”.
She said that as a representative of one of the most sizeable Chinese Australia communities in NSW, she knew it was a difficult time, “especially for those who have family in Wuhan or in Hubei Province”.
“I have been in regular contact with the NSW Minister for Health to ensure everyone in our community has access to the most up to date information, including translated material for distribution,” she said.
“We will get through this together, as one community.”
Fears of the Coronavirus spreading has also left many chemists without masks and hand sanitisers.
A Chemist Warehouse Campsie pharmacist spokesperson says they are getting over 50 requests a day for the masks which have long sold out but orders are in for more supplies.
“I think every pharmacy would be having the same challenges,” she said.
For information, including the latest updates in community languages, visit health.nsw.gov.au.
