#COVID19Aus update 26th August 2023

We seem to be in a period of relatively low, stable numbers. That and/or no-one cares anymore and are therefore the weekly data isn't being published any more (looking at you, Queensland and Northern Territory).

So, given that two states are missing from this week's graph of Australian COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths, I'll revert back to NSW, my home state. As mentioned before, since NSW reports "anyone in hospital with COVID-19" while the rest of Australia reports "people in hospital because of COVID-19" and because of the fact that NSW is the most populated state anyway, any Australian graph is disproportionately weighted to the situation NSW finds itself in. "As always", mutters the other states.

But even in NSW, the amount of COVID-19 in the community seems low and stable, at least for now.

Australia has a dose of ‘long Morrison’, and it’s nothing to sneeze at
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-has-a-dose-of-long-morrison-and-it-s-nothing-to-sneeze-at-20230802-p5dtbz.html
COVID-19 may be receding in the memory but Australia can’t seem to shake off “long Morrison”, the lingering effects of a prime ministership widely deemed to have had a pestilential effect on the country’s body politic. Since his departure from office 14 months ago, we have witnessed the emergence of a number of variants.

Photo of newspaper clipping I've nabbed from a friend's post on a different social media platform appears to have come from a reader's comment in the paper version of this article, which was printed in response a day after the main article: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/a-message-for-the-premier-honour-the-deal-you-made-with-teachers-20230803-p5dtqc.html

#LongMorrison #LongHoward #ScottyFromMarketing #LiarFromTheShire #ScottMorrison #JohnHoward #AusPol #COVID19 #COVID19Aus #CovidIsNotOver #WearAMask

Hi Hive Mind,

I've been graphing and commenting on COVID-19 in Australian #COVID19Aus since the start of the outbreak (mostly over on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Yowie9644 - most of my COVID-19 posts are public ).

Today, I compared the weekly death rate due to COVID-19 in the USA to the death rate in Australia, adjusted for population. And I don't quite understand what I am seeing. Our death rate was pretty good at the start of the pandemic because our lockdowns were brutal. When our restrictions were lifted at the started of 2022 they shot up. The data from the USA also has an anomoly that I can't explain. At the start of April last year, the death rate plummeted and has been stable ever since. I can't imagine people stopped dying all of a sudden - was reporting method changed? Can anyone explain this? Ta.

This is not responsible behaviour, and really shows these health #care professionals and commentators do not practice what they say they're about.
#integrity #COVID19 #COVID19Aus https://t.co/0pyLI4TT03

Hospitals drop mask requirements. What could go wrong?

#SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #LongCovid #HeartDisease #VascularDisease #Covid19Aus

https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/hundreds-die-of-covid-after-catching-virus-while-in-hospital-20230330-p5cwjx.html

RT @BigBadDenis: Falling booster rates, new variants mean vaccines aren’t blunting COVID any more.

#COVID19Aus

Source: https://t.co/ivyU13nkMU https://t.co/3iCxp6VZDD

This is how we care about everyone: our loved ones, our community, our economy - and us.
#CovidIsNotOver #CovidIsAirborne #WearAMask
@Mark_Butler_MP @YvetteDAth @BradHazzard @MaryAnneThomas @jeremyrockliff @PictonChris @natashafyles @RachelSS_MLA
#COVID19Aus https://t.co/vPxA2xREhx

RT @ChrisHeHim1: NSW cases UP, deaths UP and people in hospital UP!

When do we accept that the current strategy is NOT WORKING, FFS!

#nswpol #CovidIsntOver #CovidIsNotOver #BringBackMasks #auspol #covid19nsw #COVID19Aus https://t.co/oAAsXi1yIV

If this is the current NSW government mask advice, why has my heart specialist's cardiology centre dropped the mask requirement for patients and staff??
ANYONE - please??
I'm deeply concerned about visiting them now.

(Why don't I ask them? I'll get into an argument and lose.)

#SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #LongCovid #HeartDisease #VascularDisease #Covid19Aus

How to show respect for the elderly.
Lesson 1: Australia.

Per Denis - The COVID info guy -
@BigBadDenis on Twitter:

COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian residential aged care facilities: 23 Feb 2023

🔸Active cases: 948 (+55)
🔸Active outbreaks: 160 (+24)
🔸Residents: 662 (+17)
🔸Staff: 286 (+38)
🔸Reported deaths in 2023: 330 (+10)

#agedcare #COVID19Aus #SARSCoV2 #COVID19

@danielbowen @Mark_Butler_MP 2/2 Unfortunately not everyone can #WearAMask, particularly some of our most vulnerable people - many of whom (only) use #PublicTransport. That's why we need standards for ventilation and #AirQuality for all enclosed spaces.
#CleanerAir4PublicTransport #COVID19Aus @Mark_Butler_MP

RT @BigBadDenis: There’s a new COVID booster. Should you get one?

How do you decide if you need another booster? And does it matter which vaccine you get?

#COVID19Aus #COVIDbooster

Source: https://t.co/JmjUSc27tC https://t.co/fvTuqrP9WA

Even editorial in today's @canberratimes has picked up the need to improve messaging on #COVID19Aus: 'The failure by the government and its advisers to prioritise public health messaging... has left the elderly and the immunocompromised living in fear...
https://t.co/YvJGUpTses

That Public health in Australia has fallen so far...

"More than 26 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been wasted in Australia since they became available two years ago, according to the hidden findings of a report commissioned by Health Minister Mark Butler last year.

"The report also warned that Australia could face a “catastrophic” new Covid-19 variant, which may render vaccines ineffective; that contradictory health advice to government is undermining confidence in vaccines; and that advisory structures need an overhaul to be ready for another emergency."

#SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #LongCovid #Covid19Aus
https://t.co/UhDBgIerEj

Another 10 minutes a couple more people = air is even more stale and so more dangerous for catching an infection like #COVID19Aus #RSV or #flu. Not good enough @Transport_CBR @ChrisSteelMLA @ACTHealth - we need better #AirQuality with more #ventilation

Just because the senator hadn't heard of pericarditis or myocarditis doesn't mean much.

He's not a doctor!

While there is a link to covid19, the CDC is adamant that the effects of the illness are much more dangerous than the possible side effects & still recommends getting vaccinated.

#Auspol #covid19 #covid19Aus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/myocarditis.html

@NathanMackBrown Yes. Wish Australian authorities would make such a recommendation @Mark_Butler_MP @YvetteDAth @BradHazzard @MaryAnneThomas @jeremyrockliff @PictonChris @natashafyles @RachelSS_MLA
@healthgovau #COVID19Aus

Well my vaccinations are up to date (or near enough to it) & I've never knowingly caught #covid19) but could have had an asymptomatic case.

It's not really a question that can be ansered 'yes', or 'no'. All people could say is that, like me, they've never had a serious illness & have never tested positive.

#auspol #covid19aus #covid

So Australian mortality up 18%? Gee maybe it’s due to the pandemic we’ve had that makes it far more likely for you to die in the year following even a mild case? #COVID19 #covid19aus #mortality

Just got my 4th Moderna Spikevax. (This one Bivalent; the others were regular.) Terry White Chemmart website lists Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax, so there's choice. Plenty of appointments available - I booked less than 90 minutes is advance. #COVID19Vic #COVID19Aus #CovidIsNotOver