Australia recently reported one of the highest daily death tolls because of COVID-19 and its variants, with hospital admissions reaching record levels as authorities battle to stay ahead of extremely contagious Omicron strains.
For those unaware, The BA.4 and BA.5 variants have been responsible for an increase in new infections worldwide, as they prey on bypassing immune defenses induced by vaccination or earlier infections.
Australia recently published the highest daily results since the first Omicron wave struck the country earlier this year, with 90 deaths from the COVId-19 crisis trailing 89 deaths on the following day. Moreover, the number of new cases rose to more than 55,600, which was a record high since May 18, 2022.
The largest country in the world has reported approximately 9 million COVID-19 cases and 10,968 fatalities since the pandemic started.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that despite requests from some doctors, the state governors and federal health officials have not mandated masks in indoor settings. Besides, there is little public support for returning to such measures to combat the most recent outbreak of infections.
Australia impeccably escaped the high mortality tolls witnessed in other nations during the first wave of the pandemic, largely due to widespread public adherence to stringent social distancing regulations.
But the Prime Minister witnessed severe pressure from some healthcare professionals to impose mask mandates, arguing that a mandate is pointless without enforcement. Moreover, the implications of severe regulations on mental health are ought to be considered by health experts as well, he added.
The number of patients with COVID-19 in Australian hospitals is now approaching the peak seen in January given the recent Omicron wave. There are currently 5,350 people in hospitals, and numerous states are dealing with record-high admissions.
With only approximately 71% of the eligible population having had their booster dose, authorities have urged firms to permit employees to work from home and advised individuals to get booster shots immediately.
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