Interesting coming across the NEW definition of Covid cases . I naively assumed a CoviD case was a confirmed via serology test in Australia.
But it also includes the following.
A Probable and a Suspect case is now classified as a case. i.e Just having a flu is now considered a CoviD case.
This is just ludicrous. The media is scaring the shit out of people with blown up hype.
So the common flu can now be classified as a Covid Case. That is how I am reading this Australian CDNA Guidelines for PUBLIC HEALTH UNITS
A Covid case encompasses
Confirmed Case
Probable Case
Suspect case
So from now on when the media and alarmist get into a frenzy about COVID cases have a good llook at the definitions.
Probably why a little confusion in the USA now. Big jump in Covid Cases but related deaths have not followed.
The case definition is based on what is currently known about the clinical and epidemiological profile of cases of COVID-19 presenting in Australia and internationally. Health authorities are constantly monitoring the spectrum of clinical symptoms and nature of illness. Using a 14 day exposure period will cover the duration of the incubation period in the vast majority of cases.
Confirmed case
A person who:
i. tests positive to a validated specific SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test;
OR
ii. has the virus isolated in cell culture, with PCR confirmation using a validated method;
OR
iii. undergoes a seroconversion to or has a significant rise in SARS-CoV-2 neutralising or IgG antibody level (e.g. four-fold or greater rise in titre)
.1 Probable case
A person who has detection of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising or IgG antibody1 AND has had a compatible clinical illness AND meets one or more of the epidemiological criteria outlined in the suspect case definition (see below).
Suspect case
Clinical and public health judgement should be used in assessing if hospitalised patients with nonspecific signs of infection and patients who do not meet the clinical or epidemiological criteria should be considered suspect cases.
A person who meets the following clinical AND epidemiological criteria:
Clinical criteria:
Fever (≥37.5°C) 2 or history of fever (e.g. night sweats, chills) OR acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat)4 OR loss of smell or loss of taste.
Epidemiological criteria:
In the 14 days prior to illness onset:
• Close contact5,6 (refer to Contact definition below) with a confirmed or probable case
• International travel
• Passengers or crew who have travelled on a cruise ship
• Healthcare, aged or residential care workers and staff with direct patient contact
• People who have lived in or travelled through a geographically localised area with elevated risk of community transmission, as defined by public health authorities7
Notes: 1 Antibody detection must be by a validated assay and included in an external quality assurance program.
2 It is recommended that temperature is measured using a tympanic, oral or other thermometer proven to consistently and accurately represent peripheral body temperature.
3 If the person is a close contact of a probable case, at least one person in the chain of transmission must be a confirmed case.
4 Other reported symptoms of COVID-19 include: fatigue, runny nose, muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting and loss of appetite. Clinical and public health judgement should be used to determine if individuals with sudden and unexplained onset of one or more of these other symptoms should be considered suspect cases.
5 Testing household contacts of confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 may not be indicated where resources are constrained. These cases would be considered ‘probable cases’ (refer to definition above).
6 In certain high risk outbreak settings, PHU may consider testing asymptomatic contacts to inform management of the outbreak. For further information, refer to outbreak investigation and management in high-risk settings.
7 For further information on geographically localised areas with elevated risk of community transmission,
