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Sydney: The number of Australians hospitalized with Covid-19 hit a record nearly 5,450 on Monday, official data showed, as the spread of the highly contagious new omicron The subtypes affect the healthcare system across the country.
That figure has risen since late June, as the BA.4 and BA.5 strains have become dominant because they can evade vaccination or immune protection from the former infection, while some experts say the latter is a form of measles. can be contagious.
Those in hospitals are the highest since the emergence of the coronavirus, up from January’s high of 5,390 during the first wave of Omicron infections. The daily death toll has also risen, above 100 for the first time on Saturday.
There has been an outbreak of more than 1,000 retirement homes, the government said, as the elderly are largely affected.
Defense Secretary Richard Marles said many aged care centers were facing staff shortages, with support for defense personnel at such facilities to be extended until the end of September.
“It is an extreme measure and it is correct to describe it,” he told ABC television. “Given the number of outbreaks we’ve got right now, this is the right thing to do.”
Many frontline workers in hospitals are also sick or in isolation, further deepening the healthcare crisis.
During a harsh winter with both COVID-19 and the flu virus, officials have recommended the use of masks indoors and an immediate booster dose of the vaccine, telling businesses to allow them to work indoors.
AustraliaOne of the countries with the most vaccinations against COVID-19 has given two doses to about 95% of people over the age of 16, although only 71% have had booster shots.
Still, its number of nearly 9.13 million infections and 11,181 deaths was lower than that of many developed economies.
That figure has risen since late June, as the BA.4 and BA.5 strains have become dominant because they can evade vaccination or immune protection from the former infection, while some experts say the latter is a form of measles. can be contagious.
Those in hospitals are the highest since the emergence of the coronavirus, up from January’s high of 5,390 during the first wave of Omicron infections. The daily death toll has also risen, above 100 for the first time on Saturday.
There has been an outbreak of more than 1,000 retirement homes, the government said, as the elderly are largely affected.
Defense Secretary Richard Marles said many aged care centers were facing staff shortages, with support for defense personnel at such facilities to be extended until the end of September.
“It is an extreme measure and it is correct to describe it,” he told ABC television. “Given the number of outbreaks we’ve got right now, this is the right thing to do.”
Many frontline workers in hospitals are also sick or in isolation, further deepening the healthcare crisis.
During a harsh winter with both COVID-19 and the flu virus, officials have recommended the use of masks indoors and an immediate booster dose of the vaccine, telling businesses to allow them to work indoors.
AustraliaOne of the countries with the most vaccinations against COVID-19 has given two doses to about 95% of people over the age of 16, although only 71% have had booster shots.
Still, its number of nearly 9.13 million infections and 11,181 deaths was lower than that of many developed economies.
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