Need a COVID-19 clearance letter for patients? RACGP has you covered

If you have patients whose employers are requesting medical clearances from COVID-19, the RACGP has made a template letter available for GPs to use

Welcome to The Medical Republic‘s live COVID-19 blog.

Got any tips, comments or feedback? Email me at bianca@biancanogrady.com

The latest

Afternoon update: study of COVID-19 on US navy vessel reveals 1 in 5 asymptomatic, and RACGP puts out template for medical clearance letter for patients’ employers.
Morning update: Seven million COVID-19 cases globally, government-run webinar for GPs on COVID-19 updates, FAQs on resuscitation during COVID-19, and which disinfectants are TGA-approved against SARS-CoV-2?
Today’s updated COVID-19 infection figures for Australia.

4.20pm, June 10

If you have patients whose employers are requesting medical clearances from COVID-19, the RACGP has made a template letter available for GPs to use for these patients.
A COVID-19 outbreak aboard a US navy vessel has shed light on how the infection impacts younger adults, including the observation that around one-fifth of those infected showed no symptoms.
A report published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report examined what happened when SARS-CoV-2 struck the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Of the 382 individuals who participated in the study – with a median age of 30 years – 62% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 either with PCR or antibody tests and just under one-fifth of these individuals were asymptomatic.
Among individuals who did have symptoms – whether or not they tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 – loss of taste and smell were most strongly associated with COVID-19, followed by fever, chills and muscle aches. Only two individuals were hospitalised with COVID-19.
Despite the difficulties of physical distancing in such a closed environment, the study did find significantly lower odds of infection among those who reported wearing face masks, avoiding common areas and trying to socially distance themselves compared to individuals who didn’t.

11.40am, June 10

We’ve now passed the grim milestone of seven million cases of COVID-19 globally, says the WHO, including more than 400,000 deaths.
Wondering what disinfectant will actually knock SARS-CoV-2 on its spiky arse? The Therapeutic Goods Administration now has a list on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods of disinfectant products that are allowed to claim virus-killing powers.
The Federal Government is running a webinar this Thursday 11 June at 11.30am-midday AEST to update GPs on the COVID-19 response. The webinar features Deputy Chief Medical Officers Professor Michael Kidd and Dr Jenny Firman, and Queanbeyan GP and academic Dr Bilkis (Billie) Malek. The focus of this particular webinar – which is part of a series – will be advice for older patients at increased risk of COVID-19. There will also be time for questions. Register here.
How has resuscitation changed with COVID-19? The Australian Resuscitation Council has published a Frequently Asked Questions document on resuscitation, which addresses issues such as assessing unconscious patients, the risk of aerosols from chest compressions and CPR, and the use of defibrillators.

10am, June 10