COVID-19 response update for GPs – 27 August 2020

This webinar on 27 August is part of a series to update GPs on the COVID-19 response. The panel will provide key updates and answer participants’ questions.

Audience:
Health sector
Webinar date:
to

Presenters

  • Professor Michael Kidd
  • Dr Ines Rio
  • Dr Penny Burns

Related question and answer

Question: Can GP Respiratory Clinics provide testing for patients identified as close contacts of known cases, even though the patient has no respiratory symptoms? The Commonwealth contract is restrictive here.

Answer: GP-led Respiratory Clinics (GPRCs) provide a safe and specialised service for people who have respiratory symptoms while preserving hospitals for:

  • people with severe injuries and disease
  • general practices for usual care and chronic disease management.

While GPRCs perform COVID-19 testing for symptomatic people, their core function remains as a primary care platform for symptomatic people.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), which includes all State and Territory Chief Health Officers, reviewed the role of GPRCs recently and endorsed their current functions. GPRCs will maintain their existing parameters and focus on patients experiencing respiratory symptoms.

Targeted asymptomatic testing may play a role in specific situations, but there are other elements of the health system able to fulfil that function. Chief Health Officers across the country have committed to communicating this within their respective jurisdictions.

Question: How do the autopsy reports of COVID-19 differ from those from influenza?

Answer: The Department has limited expertise in providing a response to this question. An anatomical pathologist would be better placed as they can identify a number of histopathological differences following an autopsy. We do know though, the diagnosis of COVID-19 can be made by finding the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). There would not be any influenza virus in specimens taken from the body.

How to watch the webinar

You do not need to RSVP for the webinar, and there is no limit to the number of participants.

To participate in a live webinar, follow these steps:

  • Click on the Webinar link. This will take you to the webinar page.
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  • After you click on the ‘launch’ button, you will see a video player - this is where you will watch the webinar. For upcoming webinars there will also be a chat window which you can use to submit your questions.
  • You can test whether you can watch the live webinar from your device before the event. If the video pauses, please refresh your web browser by pressing F5 on your keyboard.

To watch a webinar that has finished airing, follow these steps:

  • Click on the Webinar link. This will take you to the webinar page.
  • click on the play icon on the webinar screen.

Please note:

  1. 15 minutes prior to the event start time, you will only see a holding image in the video player.
  2. Before the event, please test whether you can watch the live webinar from your computer, laptop or tablet.
  3. If the video pauses, refresh your web browser by pressing F5 on your keyboard.
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