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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-12-02 Daily Xml
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Coronavirus, Frontline Workers

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (14:45): My question is for the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister please update the council on the efforts of our frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for her question. From the day COVID-19 reached Australia, the Marshall Liberal government has backed our dedicated frontline staff, who have worked tirelessly to stop the spread of the virus. Thanks to their efforts, 548 South Australians have recovered after being infected. Tragically, four people have lost their lives, but when we look around the world we can be grateful that many more have been saved.

Each of the state's 562 COVID-positive patients so far have come in contact with staff from multiple government agencies as they have navigated the testing, contact tracing, treatment and quarantine phases. With almost 730,000 tests taken so far, much of the population has witnessed firsthand the efforts of our frontline workers at testing sites across the state.

The recent Parafield cluster has highlighted the efforts of one particular doctor, whose medical skill and decisive action was critical in identifying and arresting a potentially devastating outbreak in the state. Dr Dharminy Thurairatnam works in the emergency department at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. On Friday 13 November, Dr Dharminy observed a patient in her 80s who presented for other issues, but Dr Dharminy noticed and was concerned about her cough.

Dr Dharminy did not hesitate to order a complete respiratory swab and COVID-19 test. When the test showed that the patient had returned positive results for COVID-19, our public health team, our contact tracers and our entire State Control Centre Health swung into action to stop the spread of the emerging cluster.

Many of the family members related to the woman in her 80s were also COVID-positive but showed no symptoms. Apart from her cough, Dr Dharminy's patient also displayed no obvious COVID symptoms. If left undetected, a family of infectious, asymptomatic people could have had disastrous consequences for the South Australian community, which is why Dr Dharminy's intervention has rightly been labelled as heroic.

After being in contact with a COVID-positive patient, Dr Dharminy herself had to quarantine for 14 days. She returns to work this afternoon a health hero. When asked today how Dr Dharminy feels about being called a hero, she replied that she felt very humbled to be described in that way and that every frontliner was a hero in him or herself. I totally agree.

Dr Dharminy went on to say that the success in dealing with the pandemic would not have been possible without the efforts of all South Australians working together, highlighting the record turnout for testing in the recent extreme heat. Dr Dharminy has made significant sacrifices to be apart from her family during the pandemic. Dr Dharminy obtained her medical degree in Indonesia and gained experience in Singapore and Malaysia prior to taking up her current position at the Lyell McEwin. She is a committed and compassionate doctor and is well liked and respected by her peers and supervisors.

It was my privilege to meet Dr Dharminy today at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, along with Professor Nicola Spurrier, the Chief Public Health Officer. On behalf of the people of South Australia, we conveyed our heartfelt thanks to her for her actions. The Premier has rightly said that you only get one chance to stop a second wave. Dr Dharminy's intervention ensured that one infectious patient was given urgent treatment and care, and her actions have played a vital role in our ongoing efforts to stop a cluster from becoming an outbreak.

In resuming her duties this week, Dr Dharminy rejoins the thousands of frontline workers whose efforts have helped keep South Australians safe. I thank our frontline staff across the state for their work as well as everyone at SA Health, who have worked tirelessly for nearly 10 months now to combat this pandemic.

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