COVID 19 – Useful Information

covin 19 sample

Useful Information

COVID-19 is the name given to the new disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

SARS-CoV-2 is a new strain of a large family of viruses called coronaviruses (CoV). This was named as per the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Prior to this name it was referred to as ‘novel coronavirus 2019’ or ‘2019-nCoV’.

Coronaviruses can cause several different respiratory diseases, including:

“COVID-19 is not like the flu. It is more contagious, more deadly and it’s spreading across a world where no-one was immune” (Lewandowsky, et. al., 2021, p.3).

Rarely, coronaviruses circulating in animals such as camels, cats and bats can adapt, cross over and infect humans as a new virus (antigenic shift). This antigenic shift occurred with MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV (Communicable Diseases Network Australia [CDNA], 2021).

It is most likely that SARS-CoV-2 originated from an animal (zoonotic) source, probably bats. However, the origin remains undetermined and investigations continue. The zoonotic source not yet been confirmed as the intermediate host from animal to human (first infected human) has not yet been identified as at 12 January 2020 (CDNA, 2021).

Brief timeline of identification and spread

19 December 2019
COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.
31 December 2019
The World Health Organization (WHO) learned of the new disease when a cluster of pneumonia cases were reported.
25 January 2020
The first reported case in Australia was confirmed in Victoria, Australia.
30 January 2020
WHO declared a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ due to a global pandemic.
10 February 2020
COVID-19 was listed on the National Notifiable Diseases List (NNDL)
27 February 2020
Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was activated.
2 March 2020
First Australian locally-transmitted Coronavirus cases identified.
18 March 2020

The Governor-General declared a ‘human biosecurity emergency’ under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

19 March 2020
Australia closed borders to international travellers.
2 April 2020

Global cases reached 1,000,000

30 April 2020

6,753 COVID-19 cases and 91 deaths in total reported in Australia.

12 August 2020

22,127 COVID-19 cases and 352 deaths in total reported in Australia.

31 December 2020

28,381 COVID-19 cases and 909 deaths in total reported in Australia.

25 January 2021

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was provisionally registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

16 February 2021

Astra/Zeneca vaccine was provisionally registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

COVID-19 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in China.

Further information and updates

For further information related to the COVID-19 timeline in Australia view the ABC digital story line, Anatomy of our battle against COVID-19.

or latest updates on Covid cases, https://www.health.nsw.gov.au

For latest updates on Covid vaccine program in Australia, https://www.health.nsw.gov.au

Covid Vaccine Eligibility Checker, https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility

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