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.

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Kym Bergmann
Kym Bergmann has more than 35 years of experience in journalism and Australian and international defence industry. After graduating with Honors from the Australian National University, he joined Capital 7 television, holding several positions including foreign news editor and chief political correspondent. After 2 years on the staff of a Federal Minister, he moved to the defence sector and held senior positions in several companies, including Blohm+Voss, Thales, Celsius and Saab. In 1997 he was one of 2 Australians selected for the Thomson CSF 'Preparation for Senior Management' MBA course, the other being Chris Jenkins - formerly the CEO of Thales Australia. He has also worked as a consultant for a number of companies, including Raytheon, Tenix (now part of BAES) and Martin Marrietta (now part of Lockheed Martin). He had several board appointments, including Thomson Sintra Pacific (1994 - 96) and Saab Pacific (1998 - 2003). He retains good personal links with senior figures in Government, as well as in industry and the media. He decided to return to journalism in May 2008, and holds the position of editor for Asia Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) and Defence Review Asia (DRA). He is also a podcaster and commentator on defence and national security issues.

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