Two ADF officers confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, contact tracing underway

Two ADF officers confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, contact tracing underway The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has confirmed that two of its members have been confirmed to have contracted the COVID-19 virus and have been isolated. The Department of Defence is now making efforts to trace any contact are focussed on the two officers travelling to a meeting at Defence Headquarters, Russell, ACT on 28 February 2020. It also adds that the department is cooperating with NSW and ACT Health authorities to contact, isolate, test and support persons involved. Defence has also announced that “as a necessary precautionary measure to address the increasing risk of COVID-19 infection within Defence and the general community”, any Defence personnel and those working in Defence establishments who present with cold/flu like symptoms will remove themselves from the workplace and arrange with their local health centre or GP for testing. Furthermore, all ADF, Defence APS and contractors contacted by State or Federal Health authorities as part of COVID-19 case tracking, will provide all assistance possible. This is consistent with the Federal Government’s commitment to active, early and continuing support to public health efforts to contain COVID-19, and to work in partnership with the States and Territories. The Department of Health has announced that as of 11.30am eastern time on Sunday the 8th of March 2020, there have been 74 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, with three deaths.