As COVID-19 cases surpass 9 million across more than 200 countries, Burnet Institute researchers are releasing technical and policy briefs, and analyses of the global situation to inform governments, policymakers and the general public.
The Knowledge Hub for COVID-19 (Know-C19 Hub) is the gateway to our research findings, policy and technical reports, and also latest news about Burnet’s COVID-19 work. The Know C-19 Hub actively seeks to address gaps in knowledge and collate and provide novel strategic information on COVID-19 to inform the Australian and International response.
Read the latest from the Know-C19 Hub below. For more updates and information, visit our Know-C19 Hub page.
Burnet Institute and the Institute for Disease Modelling in the USA has developed a unique individual-based COVID19 model (Covasim) that can assess the impact and risk associated with relaxing various physical distancing policies on the resurgence of COVID-19. The model has been calibrated to Victoria in this example but can be applied to all Australian jurisdictions. It provides governments with more specific and precise data to inform their COVID-19 responses.
Read Burnet’s latest Global Analysis, which examines the accelerating pandemic in the south and west of the US, Brazil, Russia and India. Indonesia is also experiencing a rapid surge in cases and cases have been confirmed at the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. Iran and Israel are experiencing clear second waves of COVID-19, while South Korea’s epidemic curve looks similar to Victoria’s.
Burnet’s response
Burnet’s public health and laboratory-based COVID-19 researchers are contributing to innovative and evidence-based solutions to the global pandemic.
A snapshot of Burnet’s activities
- Burnet is working directly with the Australian Department of Health to collate and provide rapid, data-driven technical briefs and policy options to Federal and state Chief Medical Officers across a broad range of key policy, public health and clinical responses.
- Staff been seconded to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services providing an additional layer of expertise to support the Victorian response.
- We are also pivoting funding from sources such as DFAT to support COVID-19 responses in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar.
- Our internal COVID-19 Management Team is supporting activities across the Institute and finding solutions to maintain operations amid the lockdown.
Global situation
More than 9 million cases of COVID-19 have been recorded, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to call for political unity to fight the virus.
As some of the world’s most populous countries contend with increasing caseloads and others face second waves of infections, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned the pandemic is still accelerating.
“All countries are facing a delicate balance, between protecting their people, while minimising the social and economic damage,” Dr Tedros said in an address to media.
“We urge countries to be careful and creative in finding solutions that enable people to stay safe while getting on with their lives.”
Dr Tedros expressed optimism at preliminary findings that the drug dexamethasone could be used to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Globally there has been more than 9,843,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 495,000 deaths attributed to the virus, according to the latest situation report from WHO (as of 28 June 2020).
Myanmar and Papua New Guinea
There have been 296 confirmed cases in Myanmar and 11 in Papua New Guinea.
Australian situation
Visit health.gov.au to keep in touch with the current status of Australian cases.
LINKS and RESOURCES
- covid19evidence.net.au/
- chiefscientist.gov.au/RRIF
- nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/leadership-and-governance/committees/national-covid-19-health-and-research-advisory-committee
- who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance
- health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
- gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.
