University of the Sunshine Coast health academic Dr Matthew Mason has welcomed key elements of the Australian Government's report on the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, released today.
Dr Mason, a Lecturer in Nursing who is also a Board Director of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control, and a member of the Pacific Region Infectious Disease Association, says:
"Australia’s COVID-19 response inquiry report adds to the national knowledge contained in reports chronicling and discussing the performance of governments, institutions, and the community at large in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"The report clearly emphasises the importance of a comprehensive, coordinated approach that considers health, economic, and social impacts of pandemic decisions, and rightly so.
"The need for better preparedness, an emphasis on protecting priority populations, and addressing health inequities are welcome recommendations, as is the recognition of the need to rebuild public trust in government and scientific advice.
"From an infection prevention and control (IPC) perspective, the report highlights the necessity of flexible, evidence-based decision-making processes that can adapt to evolving risks.
"It also underscores the critical role of cross-sector collaboration, including government, community groups, experts, and industry.
"With the report stating that 'Infection prevention and control can be an effective tool to manage virus spread; however, clear guidance must be provided to ensure all Australians can access information on how to appropriately enact it' (p244), it is vital IPC is included in the remit of the Australian Centre for Disease Control to ensure industries and areas outside of the health care setting have access to contemporary and appropriate IPC information."
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