COVID-19 Australia: Epidemiology Report 23: Fortnightly reporting period ending 16 August 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2020.44.70Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2, novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, acute respiratory disease, epidemiology, AustraliaAbstract
• The number of new cases reported nationally this fortnight was 3,767, a 37% decrease from the previous fortnight (5,944). On average this represented 269 cases diagnosed each day over the reporting period, a decrease from 425 cases per day over the previous reporting period.
• 3,628 (96%) of all cases were reported in Victoria, with a smaller number of cases reported from NSW (125), Qld (2), WA (5), SA (6) and Tas (1).
• In Victoria, the majority of cases (3,284; 90%) were locally acquired, with a further 344 (10%) under investigation at the time of analysis, but likely also to be locally acquired.
• Of the remaining 139 cases reported, 26 (19%) were overseas acquired; 110 (80%) were locally acquired, predominantly in NSW, and 3 (2%) were reported as under investigation.
• The decrease in new cases observed this fortnight in Victoria is likely associated with the enhanced public health measures that are currently in place in Victoria.
• A total of 54 deaths were reported, all from Victoria: 52 (96%) were aged 70 years and over, and 2 (4%) were aged 30 to 69 years.
• Testing rates remain high across all jurisdictions, with an overall positivity rate for the reporting period of 0.6%. Victoria reported a positivity rate of 1.7% for this reporting period; in all other jurisdictions the positivity rate was 0.05% or lower.
Downloads
References
overnment of New South Wales. What you can and can't do under the rules: outdoor public gatherings. [Internet.] Sydney: Government of New South Wales; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules#outdoor-public-gatherings.
Government of New South Wales. Health advice update on masks. [Internet.] Sydney: Government of New South Wales; 2 August 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/health-advice-update-on-masks.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Stage 4 restrictions. [Internet.] Melbourne: Victoria State Government, DHHS; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/health-advice-update-on-masks.
Queensland Government. Border restrictions. [Internet.] Brisbane: Queensland Government; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/border-restrictions.
Government of Western Australia. COVID-19 coronavirus: WA Roadmap. [Internet.] Perth: Government of Western Australia; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-wa-roadmap.
Government of South Australia. Recovery from COVID-19. [Internet.] Adelaide: Government of South Australia; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/recovery.
Tasmanian Government. Roadmap to recovery. [Internet.] Hobart: Tasmanian Government; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/families-community/roadmap-to-recovery.
Australian Capital Territory Government. Canberra’s recovery plan: easing of restrictions. [Internet.] Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Government; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/canberra-recovery.
Northern Territory Government. Roadmap to the new normal: other information. [Internet.] Darwin: Northern Territory Government; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/roadmap-new-normal#section2.
World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) dashboard. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 2020. [Accessed on 19 August 2020.] Available from: https://covid19.who.int/.
New Zealand Government Ministry of Health. COVID-19 - Significant clusters. [Internet.] Wellington: New Zealand Government, Ministry of Health; 2020. [Accessed on 20 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases/covid-19-significant-clusters.
New Zealand Government. Current alert level. [Internet.] Wellington: New Zealand Government; 2020. [Accessed on 20 August 2020.] Available from: https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19/current-alert-level/.
Papua New Guinea National Department of Health, WHO Representative Office for Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Health Situation Report #34: 17 August 2020. Port Moresby: Papua New Guinea National Department of Health; 2020. [Accessed on 20 August 2020.] Available from: https://covid19.info.gov.pg/files/Situation%20Report/PNG%20COVID-19%20Health%20Situation%20Report%2034%20(2020-08-17)_FINAL.pdf.
WHO. Report of the WHO-China joint mission on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 2020. [Accessed 1 Mar 2020.] Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-china-joint-mission-on-covid-19-final-report.pdf.
Harding H, Broom A, Broom J. Aerosol-generating procedures and infective risk to healthcare workers from SARS-CoV-2: the limits of the evidence. J Hosp Infect. 2020;105(4):717–25.
Morawska L, Milton DK. It is time to address airborne transmission of COVID-19. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;ciaa939. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa939.
WHO. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: implications for infection prevention precautions. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 9 July 2020. [Accessed on 28 July 2020.] Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/transmission-of-sars-cov-2-implications-for-infection-prevention-precautions.
Pulinx B, Kieffer D, Michiels I, Petermans S, Strybol D, Delvaux S et al. Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and preterm birth. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-020-03964-y.
ECDC. Rapid risk assessment: Paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 infection in children – 15 May 2020. Solna: ECDC; 2020. [Accessed on 19 May 2020.] Available from: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/covid-19-risk-assessment-paediatric-inflammatory-multisystem-syndrome-15-May-2020.pdf.
WHO. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation report – 29. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 2020. [Accessed 22 Feb 2020.] Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200218-sitrep-29-covid-19.pdf.
Pung R, Chiew CJ, Young BE, Chin S, Chen M, Clapham HE. Investigation of three clusters of COVID-19 in Singapore: implications for surveillance and response measures. Lancet. 2020;395(10229):1039–46.
Park M, Cook AR, Lim JT, Sun Y, Dickens BL. A systematic review of COVID-19 epidemiology based on current evidence. J Clin Med. 2020;9(4):967.
WHO. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation report – 73. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200402-sitrep-73-Covid-19.pdf.
WHO. Criteria for releasing COVID-19 patients from isolation: scientific brief. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 17 June 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/criteria-for-releasing-covid-19-patients-from-isolation.
Wölfel R, Corman VM, Guggemos W, Seilmaier M, Zange S, Müller MA et al. Virological assessment of hospitalized patients with COVID-2019. Nature. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2196-x.
He X, Lau EHY, Wu P, Deng X, Wang J, Hao X. Temporal dynamics in viral shedding and transmissibility of COVID-19. Nat Med. 2020;26(5):672-675.
WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Transmission of COVID-19 by asymptomatic cases. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 11 June 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: http://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/corona-virus/transmission-of-covid-19-by-asymptomatic-cases.html.
Lennon NJ, Bhattacharyya RP, Mina MJ, Rehm HL, Hung DT, Smole S et al. Comparison of viral levels in individuals with or without symptoms at time of COVID-19 testing among 32,480 residents and staff of nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Massachusetts. medRxiv. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.20.20157792.
Cheng HY, Jian SW, Liu DP, Ng TC, Huang WT, Lin HH. Contact tracing assessment of COVID-19 transmission dynamics in Taiwan and risk at different exposure periods before and after symptom onset. JAMA Intern Med. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2020.
Chandrashekar A, Liu J, Martinot AJ, McMahan K, Mercado NB, Peter L et al. Deng W, Bao L, Liu J, Xiao C, Liu J, Xue J et al. SARS-CoV-2 infection protects against rechallenge in rhesus macaques. Science. 2020;eabc4776. doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abc4776.
Deng W, Bao L, Liu J, Xiao C, Liu J, Xue J et al. Primary exposure to SARS-CoV-2 protects against reinfection in rhesus macaques. Science. 2020;eabc5343. doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abc5343.
Seow J, Graham C, Merrick B, Acors S, Steel KJA, Hemmings O et al. Longitudinal evaluation and decline of antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection. medRxiv. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.09.20148429.
Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Division of risk assessment and international cooperation. Findings from investigation and analysis of re-positive cases. [Internet.] Cheongju: Government of South Korea, KCDC; 2020. [Accessed on 24 May 2020.] Available from: https://www.cdc.go.kr/board/board.es?mid=a30402000000&bid=0030&act=view&list_no=367267&nPage=1.
Rockett RJ, Arnott A, Lam C, Sadsad R, Timms V, Gray KA et al. Revealing COVID-19 transmission in Australia by SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing and agent-based modeling. Nat Med. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-1000-7.
Seemann T, Lane C, Sherry N, Duchene S, Goncalves da Silva A, Caly L et al. Tracking the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia using genomics. medRxiv. 2020 doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.12.20099929.
Eden JS, Rockett R, Carter I, Rahman H, de Ligt J, Hadfield J et al. An emergent clade of SARS-CoV-2 linked to returned travellers from Iran. Virus Evol. 2020;6(1):veaa027. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ve/veaa027.
Sun P, Qie S, Liu Z, Ren J, Li K, Xi JJ. Clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: A single arm meta-analysis. J Med Virol. 2020;92(6):612–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25735.
Li B, Bai W, Hashikawa T. The neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV-2 may be at least partially responsible for the respiratory failure of COVID-19 patients. J Med Virol. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25728.
Mao L, Jin H, Wang M, Hu Y, Chen S, He Q et al. Neurological manifestations of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Neurol. 2020;e201127. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.1127.
Drew DA, Nguyen LH, Steves CJ, Menni C, Freydin M, Varsavsky T et al. Rapid implementation of mobile technology for real-time epidemiology of COVID-19. Science. 2020;368(6497):1362–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abc0473.
Ellul MA, Benjamin L, Singh B,Lant S, Michael BD, Easton A et al. Neurological associations of COVID-19. Lancet Neurol. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(20)30221-0.
Venkatakrishnan AJ, Puranik A, Anand A, Zemmour D, Yao X, Wu X et al. Knowledge synthesis of 100 million biomedical documents augments the deep expression profiling of coronavirus receptors. Elife. 2020;9:e58040. doi: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.58040.
Brann DH, Tsukahara T, Weinreb C, Lipovsek M, Van den Berge K, Gong B et al. Non-neural expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry genes in the olfactory epithelium suggests mechanisms underlying anosmia in COVID-19 patients. Sci Adv. 2020;6(31):eabc5801. doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abc5801.
Inciardi RM, Lupi L, Zaccone G, Italia L, Raffo M, Tomasoni D et al. Cardiac involvement in a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Cardiol. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1096.
Guo T, Fan Y, Chen M, Wu X, Zhang L, He T et al. Cardiovascular implications of fatal outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA Cardiol. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1017.
Madjid M, Safavi-Naeini P, Solomon SD, Vardeny O. Potential effects of coronaviruses on the cardiovascular system: a review. JAMA Cardiol. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1286.
Riphagen S, Gomez X, Gonzalez-Martinez C, Wilkinson N, Theocharis P. Hyperinflammatory shock in children during COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31094-1.
Morand A, Urbina D, Fabre A. COVID-19 and Kawasaki like disease: the known-known, the unknown-known and the unknown-unknown. Preprints. 2020;2020050160. doi: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202005.0160.v1.
WHO. Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 2020. [Accessed 23 Feb 2020.] Available from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected.
Harrison C. Coronavirus puts drug re-purposing on the fast track. Nat Biotechnol. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41587-020-00003-1.
Wang M, Cao R, Zhang L, Yang X, Liu J, Xu M et al. Remdesivir and chloroquine effectively inhibit the recently emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in vitro. Cell Research. 2020;30;269–71.
Tang W, Cao Z, Han M, Wang Z, Chen W, Sun W et al. Hydroxychloroquine in patients with mainly mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019: open label, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1849.
Cao B, Wang Y, Wen D, Liu W, Wang J, Fan G et al. A trial of lopinavir–ritonavir in adults hospitalized with severe Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1787–99.
WHO. “Solidarity” clinical trial for COVID-19 treatments. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/global-research-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/solidarity-clinical-trial-for-covid-19-treatments.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). NIH Clinical Trial Shows Remdesivir Accelerates Recovery from Advanced COVID-19. [Internet.] Bethesda: Government of the United States of America, National Institutes of Heath, NIAID; 2020. [Accessed on 19 May 2020.] Available from: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-clinical-trial-shows-remdesivir-accelerates-recovery-advanced-covid-19.
Wang Y, Zhang D, Du G, Du R, Zhao J, Jin Y et al. Remdesivir in adults with severe COVID-19: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2020;395(10236);1569–78.
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Australia's first COVID treatment approved. [Internet.] Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health, TGA; 10 July 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] https://www.tga.gov.au/media-release/australias-first-covid-treatment-approved.
WHO. Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines. [Internet.] Geneva: WHO; 2020. [Accessed on 4 August 2020.] Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-landscape-of-covid-19-candidate-vaccines.
University of Oxford. Low-cost dexamethasone reduces death by up to one third in hospitalised patients with severe respiratory complications of COVID-19. [News release.] Oxford: University of Oxford; 16 June 2020. [Accessed on 24 June 2020.] Available from: https://www.recoverytrial.net/files/recovery_dexamethasone_statement_160620_final.pdf.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2020 Communicable Diseases Intelligence
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
