A leading infectious diseases expert has expressed concern at the numbers of people positive to COVID-19 who have died at home, yet had not presented for testing or medical care.

Canberra Hospital infectious diseases specialist Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake said there had been multiple deaths from COVID-19 due to people developing severe symptoms at home, but not coming forward for testing or medical assistance earlier on.

The concern comes following new figures reported by the ABC’s 7.30 program that more than half of COVID-19 deaths at home in NSW were not known to health authorities until post-mortem.

“If people came to hospital earlier it could be in fact a life-saving presentation,” said Professor Senanayake, of the Australian National University Medical School.