CORONAVIRUS Should we be concerned?
On January 30, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus, now officially known as COVID-19, a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
Since then, the media has run hot with stories about the virus: some accurate and some generating unnecessary fear and panic.
So, how safe are we in Australia?
What is the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and what makes it different to other viruses?
The world-wide response and concern surrounding COVID-19 basically comes down to two factors: its “newness” and its high infection rate.
Infectious diseases specialist, Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake from the Australian National University, explains that because COVID-19 is a new and emerging virus, the world’s population doesn’t have any immunity to it.
“That’s what makes COVID-19 stand out from the other infections we encounter every year and which puts it in the same category as
