🇦🇺 "Australia is experiencing a “big wave” of Covid-19 infections that is coinciding with a rise in influenza and other winter illnesses, health authorities and experts are warning."
"Esterman said the current wave was “as bad as it was at the end of last year”. “And it’s still going up, so that’s a major concern especially since many hospitals have stopped mandatory face masks for their staff.”
“We’re looking at 6 to 10 times as many people actually infected as the case numbers are showing,” Esterman said.
Canadian author Margaret Atwood has tested positive for Covid-19.
"I’m so sorry to have to tell you that I am no longer able to be in Ireland this weekend... I was about to get my flight to Ireland when I tested positive for Covid"
NSW: "A storm of pneumonia, flu, whooping cough and COVID-19 is surging rapidly across NSW as emergency departments brace for a punishing winter of respiratory illnesses."
WHO confirms first-ever fatal human case of bird flu strain H5N2.
A resident of Mexico has become the first person globally to die from the A(H5N2) subtype of bird flu.
The 59-year-old died on 24 April after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, nausea and general discomfort, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
🇨🇦 Canada: Ontario pulls plug on COVID-19 wastewater surveillance.
Province says move will 'avoid duplication' as Ottawa expands its monitoring program.
Premier Doug Ford's government is scrapping Ontario's program for sampling wastewater to monitor the level of COVID-19 in the population.
The program measures how much of the virus that causes COVID-19 is circulating around the province and is run by a dozen universities and research sites, through funding from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
In a statement, a provincial official said the move will "avoid duplication" with a federal program.
New report: More than 200 symptoms tied to long COVID.
"While there is evidence that many people with Long COVID symptoms have improved by 12 months, data beyond that time frame is limited but suggestive that recovery might plateau or progress at a slower rate"