Cape York outbreak could be 'nightmare'
The ability for remote Cape York communities to respond to an outbreak of coronavirus is very low and getting resources to them is an issue, warns a public health expert.
A virus outbreak could lead to a "nightmare" situation for those in Queensland's vast and remote north if it is not properly managed.
Like communities around the world, the Apunipima Cape York Health Council is working with other health authorities to manage any potential future outbreak in a sustained way.
But overcrowded housing, chronic disease, a lack of infrastructure and regular community interaction poses is a major threat in remote communities.
Apunipima Public Health Medical Advisor Dr Mark Wenitong has urged those who reside in remote communities to follow public health information closely.
Dr Wenitong says getting extra resources into communities from the state and federal government is an issue.
"Gloves and gowns particularly, the ability to take samples for testing is severely hampered by a lack off PPE (personal protection equipment)," Dr Wenitong said.
"Those are the kinds of things at the moment that are critical for us to respond fast.
"We are worried about inequity in a pandemic response -- we make sure we are as prioritised as much as anyone else in the community and that's going to be an ongoing issue I think."
He said communities are ramping up in preparation for any first cases cases of coronavirus.
"Having said that, there's not a lot of capacity in many communities, even for isolation or quarantine, but communities are working through that."
There has been no outbreak in remote communities but he has urged those who reside in them to follow public health information closely.
"It will a nightmare if we can't manage this properly front end - if we let it get away it's going to be a real problem," Dr Wenitong said.
"Given we have high rates of chronic disease in older people, overcrowding, we have small discreet communities where people interact often."
Queensland Chief Medical Officer Jeannette Young says four planes are being stationed throughout Cape York ready to evacuate patients to urban areas.
She said processes are in place to be able to place people in isolation or quarantine in remote areas.
