CANBERRA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has activated the Coronavirus Emergency Response Plan and now operates on the basis the virus is a pandemic.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday activated an emergency response to COVID-19, giving federal and state governments powers to contain the virus if outbreaks occur.
The government announced that they were triggering preparations for increased medical stockpiles and fever clinics.
"While the World Health Organization (WHO) is yet to declare the nature of the coronavirus and it's moved towards a pandemic phase, we believe that the risk of a global pandemic is very much upon us and as a result, as a government, we need to take the steps necessary to prepare for such a pandemic," Morrison told reporters on Thursday.
Hunt on Friday chaired a meeting of state and territory health ministers to formalize the role each level of government will play if a pandemic hits Australia.
On Thursday, Hunt said that the emergency plan was about ensuring Australia was well-prepared for any domestic outbreaks.
"So primarily now it moves to a formal engagement with the states where we are doing all of that work across medical stockpile, personal protective equipment, supply chain, in particular personnel," Hunt said.
"One of the things we're most focused on is to make sure that we have the personnel capacity if there is a surge within our hospitals and medical system," Hunt added.
