Australia’s case numbers & deaths third highest globally

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Representative image. Photo by Vladimir Fedotov on Unsplash

Australia’s COVID fatality and case numbers have risen to the third highest in the world, per capita.

Experts say this is most likely the worst phase of the pandemic so far and are urging people to wear masks and get their booster shots if they have not done so already, according to news complied by the NEMBC Multilingual News Service, Victoria.

Professor Mike Toole, an epidemiologist from the Burnet Institute, studied the latest international data available and found Australia is currently ranked third in the world for case numbers and deaths.

Professor Toole says that there needs to be clear and strong public health messaging on precautionary measures against COVID, such as mask wearing, receiving booster shots and testing.

Victorian Numbers

Across Victoria over 69 percent of people aged 12 years and older are now up to date with three COVID-19 vaccination doses, while almost 95 percent have received two doses.

In addition, almost 57 percent of children aged five to 11 years in the state have now received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

Victoria has recorded over 12,653 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 with 32 lives lost.

Record number of COVID hospitalisations

New figures show COVID hospitalisations have reached a record number, surpassing the previous peak at the start of the year.

The numbers from the Department of Health show that Australians in hospital with COVID are now at an all-time high.

However, ICU cases have dropped significantly when compared to the previous peak of hospitalisations in January.

Latest Omicron subvariant arrives in Australia

The latest subvariant of Omicron has arrived in Australia, with signs that it could be more transmissible than previous ones.

The World Health Organisation announced in early July that they were monitoring this new variant after it emerged in India in May.

The new strain is called BA.2.75 and although it is showing signs of increased transmissibility, it has not shown any clear evidence of being more severe.

The new strain is responsible for a very small number of cases in Australia so far, with the federal

The Department of Health having recorded at least ten cases as of July 18.

Health Message

All Australians over the age of 30 are now eligible for a second booster or fourth dose of a COVID vaccine.

People over the age of 16 who are severely immunocompromised, disabled or at risk of severe COVID symptoms are also eligible for this fourth shot.

To receive it, there must have been at least three months elapsed since having the previous booster, or third dose.

In Victoria the fourth dose is available from most GPs and pharmacies.

To book, use the online booking system or call the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

(NEMBC Multilingual News Service)


The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.


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