ADF COVID-19 cases continue to fade

10/05/202010/05/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2680 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 that hit ADF members has remained steady for a full week, while the numbers of those now officially declare recovered has risen to 37.

We have no specific details as to which cases recovered this week, but safe to assume they were from among the cohort detected in the Middle East recently, some of whom were asymptomatic in the first place.

We also have no clues as to whether the newest cases confirmed overseas are still overseas or have been repatriated to Australia.

In any case, it’s awesome to report good news in respect of the Australian Defence Force’s COVID-19 infection rates.

Latest snapshot of Defence national support National (sic)

National – Approximately 2000 personnel are deployed as part of
Operation COVID-19 Assist

The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, announced Operation COVID-19 Assist on April 1, 2020.
Current nation-wide Defence support includes:
- Contact tracing and planning support teams to all state and territory governments [except those that the ADF have already reported complete].
- Supporting law enforcement agencies with mandatory quarantine arrangements.
Additionally, the ADF:
- Has established the three-star-led COVID-19 task force to coordinate Defence’s internal response to COVID-19 and support the whole-of-government effort.
- Is supporting Emergency Management Australia-led (EMA) planning for the National Communicable Disease Incidence of National Significance Plan in response to COVID-19.
- Is supporting the Department of Health with logistics and specialist staff.
- Has provided health, logistics and movements support to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Border Force repatriation and care of Australian Nationals on Christmas Island and Howard Springs via RAAF bases Learmonth and Darwin.
- Has been supplying clinical and epidemiological support to the Department of Health National Incident Room since early February 2020.
More than 200 ADF and Defence APS personnel are embedded in various Australian government agencies, including the Department of Home Affairs and Services Australia.

State-by-state breakdown

Here’s why Defence maths look dodgy: Personnel in Joint Task Group headquarters, supporting roles, and those preparing for tasks are included in overall state-based figures but are not captured in the list of tasks.

New South Wales – 601 personnel

456 ADF personnel are supporting state police quarantine and self-isolation directions at Sydney Airport, ports, local hotels and residences.
10 personnel are involved in contact tracing teams.

Queensland – 454 personnel

156 ADF personnel are supporting state police with Queensland border controls.
70 personnel are providing support to Queensland Police to protect Indigenous communities.
60 personnel are supporting self-isolation compliance checks
27 personnel are supporting state police with the reception of international arrivals at airports.
16 personnel are involved in planning support and contact tracing teams.

Victoria – 35 personnel

12 ADF personnel are involved in planning support and assistance.

Western Australia – 251 personnel

149 ADF personnel are supporting Western Australia Police Force border controls.
13 personnel are involved in planning support teams.

South Australia – 37 personnel

17 ADF personnel are involved in planning support.

Tasmania – 37 personnel

13 ADF personnel are supporting state police quarantine compliance checks.
8 personnel are involved in contact tracing teams.

Northern Territory – 185 personnel

97 ADF personnel are providing support to Northern Territory Police to protect Indigenous communities.
4 personnel are involved in planning support teams.

Australian Capital Territory – 66 personnel