Council takes blaise approach to virus threat
AS Channel Nine’s A Current Affair ‘exposed’ Karratha as the Coronavirus Gateway of WA’s North-West, Karratha tonight resolved to discuss boosting doctor numbers with the State Government. The program claims to have exposed a loophole that, “made a mockery of the tight restrictions on overseas airline arrivals”, raising serious concerns and public criticism over the lack of testing among Chinese workers arriving in WA’s Pilbara on iron ore bulk carriers.
Cr Margaret Bertling asked council to pursue discussions with health authorities regarding the virus threat to Karratha and surrounding communities, in particular to attract, “a couple of doctors so we are not overwhelmed by the crisis. It would be remiss of us not to actually raise that issue”.
On March 10, Health Minister Roger Cook told WA Parliament Karratha was among several regional centres where coronavirus clinics will be set up. However, the City tonight heard it had not yet heard from the Government. Mr Cook said regional areas remained well serviced by hospitals and GP networks, which is news to Karratha which faces a serious doctor shortage with waiting times of up to 11 days: “I have been saying in the media that while we have these COVID clinics in our adult tertiary hospital settings at the moment, we understand that there will probably be a time when we have to have them out in our outer metropolitan area and our regional areas.”
Mr Cook told parliament: “We all understand that at some point in time the spread to the community will be unavoidable. When that happens, we will deploy these COVID clinics into those communities that need them.” He added a lot of planning, “is going into working with our Aboriginal communities at the moment, particularly through the association of community health organisations of WA and the community control health organisations, or Aboriginal medical services”.
Karratha CEO Chris Adams said the City had $400,000 in the bank for attracting medical services to the city, of which $200,000 was allocated to fund rental subsidies for doctors ($125,000) and to promote Karratha as a destination for doctors and medical professionals ($75,000).
The town of Port Hedland has cancelled major community events in response to the PM’s warning last week over avoiding big crowds in the face of the coronavirus ‘crisis’. In Karratha, it’s business as usual, the City informing StreetWise: “The public health response to COVID-19 is being coordinated by the Department of Health. The City is taking advice from them.” Port Hedland commissioner Fred Riebeling told North West Telegraph last week it was essential to prioritise public health in the first instance in response to the unfolding pandemic. “As a local government, we are responsible for taking precautionary measures to minimise risks to health at public events and facilities in the face of this pandemic. I ask all residents to monitor their health and symptoms, as well as exercise hygienic behaviour at all times. The Town is proactively ensuring all facilities are cleaned thoroughly with anti-bacterial chemicals daily, ensuring hand sanitiser is available at Town facilities.” Mr Riebeling should contact the City of Karratha.
On March 3, StreetWise asked the City why it had not taken a more pro-active approach to ‘alert’ residents and particularly FIFO workers of the potential risks of infection? StreetWise also asked whether the City discussed safety with Chinese-run and/or controlled groups operating in the Pilbara and whether it believed there is a risk of infection in Karratha and surrounding communities? No comment. Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has said the single biggest concern in the coronavirus emergency is keeping the potentially deadly illness out of remote communities where the virus would have a devastating impact in isolated communities.
