The Australian Government has released modelling on the impact of COVID-19 in Australia.
If we continue with our strategy of isolation, quarantine and social isolation, we expect that our health system will cope with the projected peak in cases.
The Australian Government is boosting our intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity to around 7,000 beds.
The modelling compares the peak daily ICU bed demand under 3 different scenarios:
- uncontrolled spread – 35,000
- isolation and quarantine – 17,000
- isolation, quarantine and social isolation – below 5000
Australia will continue using the tools we have to control the disease:
- social distancing
- isolating people who have contracted the virus
- tracing and quarantining their contacts
- practising good hygiene
The more effective these measures are, the slower the spread of the disease. This means care will be available when and where Australians need it.
For more, read the modelling papers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
Read the Prime Minister's update on coronavirus measures, including Theoretical modelling of how the health system can respond