We congratulate our Reydon Street patients for putting the community first and coming forward for testing even with minor respiratory symptom. We understand the inconvenience this has caused for some of you.
The good news is so far we have had a lucky escape in South Brisbane, with only very limited community transmission after the recent high profile positive Coronavirus cases.
However, it seems likely that we will need to continue the current vigilant approach for another week or two until the situation in Queensland becomes clearer again.
We encourage patients who have any illness symptoms to discuss these with your GP by telephone or video. The symptoms of COVID-19 infection include
Most common symptoms:
- fever
- dry cough
- tiredness
Less common symptoms:
- aches and pains
- sore throat
- diarrhoea
- conjunctivitis
- headache
- loss of taste or smell
- a rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes
At Reydon Street Medical Centre we have been able to help more patients, more efficiently using telehealth and email communications. For patients who are well overall your GP will often be able to consult with you by video or telephone and arrange to send you direct to the private pathology testing sites. Last week, some patients received their results in less than half a day. Even with a negative result a follow up telephone call with your doctor will usually be needed to follow up on you progress, discuss return to work and school, and arrange any necessary medical certificates.
Thankfully most patients have not experienced significant systemic upset, but it is important to realise serious symptoms of Coronavirus infection include:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- chest pain or pressure
- loss of speech or movement.
Patients with these symptoms are likely to need extensive examination, additional investigations and advanced clinical management. In many cases they will need to attend an Emergency Department o a Respiratory Clinic which has equipment and procedures in place to deal with their clinical needs.