The Australian Medical Association said on Thursday that the country’s hospitals were “ill prepared” to reopen in line with the government’s plans as the country reported a record number of cases of Covid-19.
More modelling was needed before the country could consider easing restrictions, the association said in a letter to state and national leaders.
Australia’s virus hotspots of New South Wales and Victoria on Friday reported 1,431 and 280 daily cases, respectively. New South Wales’ total was a national record, while Victoria’s was the highest it had seen since the start of its latest outbreak.
“We must urgently prepare our health system before opening up and to do that we need new modelling based on our hospitals’ ability to cope with the associated increase in caseload,” said AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid.
“Even pre-Covid, emergency departments were full, ambulances ramped and waiting times for elective surgery too long.”
Under the national government’s plan for reopening Australia’s economy, lockdowns will be eased once the country reaches 70 per cent…
