DenisCOVIDinfoguy

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 17 days ago to auscovid19

🇳🇿New Zealand COVID weekly update: 29 Apr to 5 May

🔹New cases: 2,287 (-2.4%)
🔹Reinfections: 1,379 (60.3%)
🔹Deaths: 19 (+72.7%)
🔹Hospital: 116 (-27%)
🔹ICU: 0 (+0%)

🔸60.3% were reinfections

Sadly, 29 deaths being reported today.

🔸COVID-attributed deaths: 19
🔸Not COVID: 11
🔸Not available: 3

2 were in their 60s
5 were in their 70s
14 were in their 80s
8 were aged over 90

Of these people, ten were women and 19 were men

#COVID19NZ @auscovid19

Source: https://tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-health-professionals/data-and-statistics/covid-19-data/covid-19-current-cases/

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DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 17 days ago to auscovid19

Navigating turbulent times: Gemma Carey's insightful COVID journey.

@gemcarey #COVIDisNotOver @auscovid19

Source: https://canberratimes.com.au/story/8597744/navigating-turbulent-times-gemma-careys-insightful-post-covid-journey/

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DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 17 days ago to Victoria

Victoria: Hundreds of patients died after catching COVID in Victorian hospitals, new data shows

Almost 1 in 10 patients who caught COVID in hospital died.

Documents obtained by ABC News under Freedom of Information laws reveal at least 6,212 patients caught COVID in hospital in 24 months — 3,890 in 2022 and 2,322 in 2023. Of those, 586 died — almost 6 per week, on average — with men dying at a higher rate than women (11 per cent vs 8 per cent).

#COVID19 #Victoria @auscovid19

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-06/hundreds-died-catching-covid-victoria-hospitals-testing-masking/103784896?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=twitter

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 18 days ago to italy

🇮🇹Italy: COVID infections and deaths on the rise in the last week.

From 25 April to 1 May:

🔹New cases: 618 (+17%)
🔹Reinfections: n/a
🔹Deaths: 9 (+28.6%)
🔹Positivity rate: 0.8% (+0.3%)

🔸Hospitalised: 542 (-4.9%)
🔸ICU: 18 (-5.2%)

#COVID19 #Italy @auscovid19

Source: https://www.adnkronos.com/cronaca/covid-oggi-italia-bollettino-dati-ultima-settimana-contagi-morti_5NX2cWlS5j2WSiOmr8zhGx

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 18 days ago to auscovid19

Small group of scientists, clinicians call for CHO’s sacking, with shock claims of ‘let it rip’ COVID approach. By Jackie Sinnerton

@qldhealth @ShannonFentiman #COVIDisNotOver @auscovid19

Source: https://couriermail.com.au/coronavirus/small-group-of-scientists-clinicians-call-for-chos-sacking-with-shock-claims-of-let-it-rip-covid-approach/news-story/087cf90ce37adf5aca551e0ee8877e3f

A collection of respected scientists and clinicians has made an unprecedented call for the sacking of chief health officer John Gerrard. The group has made shock claims Dr Gerrard’s office adopted an “unscientific let-it rip” approach to the Covid pandemic and these policies cost lives and put many thousands of Queenslanders at risk of serious long-term illness. More than a dozen international, interstate and Queensland academics, researchers and medics have penned a letter to Premier Steven Miles and Health Minister Shannon Fentiman outlining what they claim are several false and uninformed Covid statements from Dr Gerrard that have purportedly minimised the seriousness of the virus. “He has repeatedly made public statements that are objectively untrue and which failed to reflect the substantial scientific evidence available at the time,” the letter, which was sent this week, states. A senior doctor employed by Queensland Health backs the call for Dr Gerrard to be replaced and has signed the letter. “Thanks to his downplaying of the need for basic mitigations in healthcare, we now see patients exposed to infections from staff, visitors and fellow patients, with Australian data demonstrating a 5 to 10 per cent mortality rate from hospital-acquired Covid seemingly being ignored,” the doctor said. “Dr Gerrard has used his position of authority as chief health officer to promote falsehoods about Covid such as droplet mode of transmission
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman stands by her chief health officer and credits him for keeping Queenslanders alive during the pandemic. “Queenslanders can thank both Dr John Gerrard and Dr Jeannette Young for their expertise and leadership during the pandemic. Queenslanders are alive today because of them and their actions,” Ms Fentiman said. “Dr Gerrard is a renowned clinician and continues to provide expert advice around managing Covid-19, in line with agreed national and international approaches. When he says people should get vaccinated, to test if you have symptoms, to stay home if you’re infected and to mask up when needed, I take that advice seriously and so should Queenslanders,” she said.
A Queensland Health spokesman has also rejected the claims in the letter. saying it was important to judge the state’s response to the pandemic by the results. “With more than 20 per cent of Australia’s population, Queensland has fortunately seen only 14 per cent of the nation’s Covid-19 deaths. This is one of the lowest mortality rates in the world,” he said. Dr Gerrard is on leave. Dr Alan Baxter, another registered medical practitioner, and an Emeritus Professor in Cellular and Molecular Biology at James Cook and Monash Universities signed the letter and told The Courier-Mail that Dr Gerrard’s position is one of great responsibility which affects the welfare and longevity of most people in the state. “His recent announcements trivialising and dismissing long Covid, for example, has left many people — and not just in Australia — wondering. In most occupations, this would be more than enough to trigger review of performance; in a position of this nature,” Dr Baxter said. The academic who is living with multiple sclerosis, claims policies adopted by the CHO’s office failed to protect people at high risk of death and disability. Dr Baxter’s view and the views of all signees are entirely their own and not the view of associated institutions. Dr Gerrard was appointed chief health officer for Queensland Health in December 2021. He was the long-term director of Infectious Diseases at the Gold Coast Hospital.

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

By Chris Turnbull @EnemyInAState

"New Covid virus found to be extremely vaccine/previously acquired immunity evasive: as expected because these new strains are so diverse they are basically new viruses"

#COVID19 #KP2 @auscovid19

Source: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240429/New-SARS-CoV-2-KP2-variant-defies-vaccines-with-higher-spread-study-warns.aspx

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

When could Australians have access to a new COVID-19 vaccine? | SBS News

On Tuesday, the WHO and EMA recommended an update to COVID-19 vaccines to target the JN.1 variant.

Professor Raina MacIntyre was part of the WHO team which made its recommendation.

Vaccines using mRNA technology can be updated and manufactured in under two months according to MacIntyre and Griffin, but regulatory bodies need to provide the green light, which can lead to delays.

"The speed of the process, from [Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation] recommending it, to [Therapeutic Goods Administration] approvals to roll out is one challenge, which adds to the delay in getting vaccines into arms," MacIntyre said.

#COVID19 #JN1 @auscovid19

Source: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/when-could-australians-have-access-to-a-new-covid-19-vaccine/lyng5ccva

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to Tasmania

TAS weekly infection update: 28 April 2024

🔹COVID: Moderate
🔹Influenza: Low
🔹RSV: Low

#COVID19 #Tasmania @auscovid19

Source: https://health.tas.gov.au/health-topics/infectious-diseases/acute-respiratory-infection-activity/weekly-update-acute-respiratory-infection-activity-tasmania

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DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian residential aged care facilities: 2 May 2024

🔹Active cases: 1,836 (+197)
🔹Active outbreaks: 258 (+46)
🔹Residents: 1,284 (+115)
🔹Staff: 552 (+82)
🔹Reported deaths in 2024: 333 (+16)

🔸6,459 aged care COVID deaths since beginning of pandemic

🔸686 reported deaths in 2020
🔸226 reported deaths in 2021
🔸3,855 reported deaths in 2022
🔸1,359 reported deaths in 2023
🔸333 reported deaths in 2024

@AnikaWells @AlboMP #Nobodyleftbehind @auscovid19

Source: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-outbreaks-in-australian-residential-aged-care-facilities-3-may-2024?language=en

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

WA weekly COVID update: 15 April to 28 April 2024

🔸COVID-19 activity indicators suggest that community transmission increased this fortnight.

🔹PCR cases only: 560 (+7%)
🔹Deaths: 10 (+11%)
🔹Hospital: 98 (+2%)
🔹ICU: 3 (unchanged)

#COVID19WA @auscovid19

Source: https://www.health.wa.gov.au/articles/f_i/infectious-disease-data/covid19-surveillance-report

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

SA weekly COVID update: 24 Apr to 30 Apr

🔹PCR cases only: 996 (+8.0%)
🔹Deaths: NR (monthly)
🔹Total deaths: 1,760 (+0)
🔹Hospital: NR
🔹ICU: NR

NR = Not Reported

@SAHealth @PictonChris @auscovid19

Source: https://sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/Conditions/Infectious+diseases/COVID-19/COVID-19+dashboard

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

Victoria: Patient dies waiting for bed at Maroondah Hospital. By Shannon Deery

"A female patient has died while waiting for a bed at a major hospital in Melbourne’s east, with staff warning Victoria’s health system is in crisis"

@VicGovDH @MaryAnneThomas @auscovid19

Source: https://heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/patient-dies-waiting-for-bed-at-maroondah-hospital/news-story/62f0ce241fcff3047b4faab61916a2d4

Another staffer said the hospital had been at capacity all week with exhausted staff struggling to keep up with demand. It is understood the patient died while waiting for a bed, shocking frustrated staff who said they felt helpless because of a bed shortage. Hospital staff said the woman was one of two people to die in the emergency department on Wednesday, a claim vehemently denied by the hospital. Staff said ambulances were being forced to ramp at the hospital with patients unable to be offloaded. Victorian Agency for Health Information data released this week showed 69.01 per cent of patients were being transferred from ambulances to emergency departments within 40 minutes, well below the 90 per cent target. Code 1 response times had also worsened since last quarter in 31 of 79 local government areas. Asked about the deaths, a spokesperson for Eastern Health, which manages the Maroondah Hospital, expressed condolences to the patients’ loved ones. “This is a very challenging time for both our staff and the community,” she said. “We express our condolences to the family and friends of anyone who has died in our health service. “Our staff are working tirelessly to provide the very best care for all of our patients; however, we have been experiencing an increased volume of higher acuity cases coupled with significant demand through our Emergency Department.”
Bed shortages across the state could also worsen within weeks unless the Allan government accedes to the demands of nurses fighting for a better wage deal. Victorian nurses have warned they will shut up to a quarter of public hospital beds and cancel planned surgeries unless a deal is reached. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch members voted in favour of a “last resort” protected action ballot this week – after rejecting the government’s offer of a 3 per cent wage increase. The union called for measures to “reverse” the growing casualisation of the workforce on Tuesday and want better penalty and incentive payments to retain permanent workers. The state’s paramedics are also at war with the government over a new wage deal.

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

ACT weekly COVID update: 26 Apr to 2 May

🔹PCR cases only: 68 (-7)
🔹Deaths: 0 (+0)
🔹Total deaths: 308 (+0)
🔹Hospital: 10 (+1)
🔹ICU: 2 (+2)
🔹Vent: 1 (+1)

🔸Case numbers ⬇️down -9.3% compared to the previous week.

#COVID19ACT @ACTHealth @auscovid19

Source: https://covid19.act.gov.au/updates/act-covid-19-statistics

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to ireland

🇮🇪 Ireland: Covid staff absences in two hospitals cost nearly €400,000 in just 9 months.

Absences of a group of health staff due to Covid-19 in 2 hospitals cost nearly €400,000 within just 9 months, according to a new study.

The researchers surveyed 1,218 healthcare staff and 208 missed at least one day at work.

The snapshot of direct economic costs highlights the financial drain on hospitals as staff are absent due to Covid-19.

#COVID19 #Ireland #COVIDisNotOver #PandemicIsNotOver #COVIDisAirborne @auscovid19

Source: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/covid-staff-absences-in-two-hospitals-cost-nearly-400000-in-just-nine-months/a1708970625.html

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

High-risk patients with COVID symptoms should use PCR rather than rapid tests, study suggests.

"Study findings that reveal a sensitivity of 47% for COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) compared with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests during Omicron variant predominance"

Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/high-risk-patients-covid-symptoms-should-use-pcr-rather-rapid-tests-study-suggests

Study: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7316a2.htm

#COVID19 @auscovid19

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 20 days ago to auscovid19

NSW: The COVID variant that now accounts for almost every case in NSW. By Angus Thomson

"The latest NSW Health respiratory surveillance report released on Thursday shows the JN.1 variant now accounts for almost all COVID-19 cases in NSW."

#COVID19nsw #JN1 #COVIDisNotOver @auscovid19

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-covid-variant-that-now-accounts-for-almost-every-case-in-nsw-20240502-p5foey.html

While those updated vaccines may be available for the northern-hemisphere winter, Deakin University epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett said it was more likely to be the vaccine Australians get “next year or in six months’ time”. “The point is, don’t wait for this next magic booster,” she said. “It’s good to see we’ve got this capacity now to keep monitoring what’s happening with the virus [variants] but ... for now, the main focus is to try and get ahead of a wave with your vaccination to give yourself time before your exposure risk goes up in the community.” Bennett said current vaccines still worked well but a “monovalent” immunisation (focused on a single strain) would be more effective at creating an antibody response to the virus and any future variants that evolve from it. “It becomes more like the annual flu shot where we try and build our vaccines to be closest to the circulating strains,” Bennett said. “You just want to try and get the greatest effectiveness you can from your vaccines – particularly for people who are really still relying on vaccine-induced immunity as their main protection.” Associate Professor Stuart Turville, a virologist at Sydney’s Kirby Institute, said the pace at which JN.1 had spread and evolved to better evade the body’s immune system showed it would be difficult to predict what future variants should be targeted by new vaccines.

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 21 days ago to auscovid19

Men have higher chance of dying early from COVID-19 than women: Lancet study

"A study found that men lost 45% more years of life to COVID-19 compared to women"

Lancet study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00065-8/abstract#%20

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/health/story/men-have-higher-chance-of-dying-early-from-covid-19-than-women-lancet-study-2534063-2024-05-01

#COVIDisNotOver #COVIDisAIRBONE @auscovid19

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DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 21 days ago to auscovid19

(1/4) NSW respiratory surveillance reports: Week ending 27 April 2024

⚠️COVID-19 activity low. Influenza activity is low. RSV activity is high⚠️

🔸COVID PCR test positivity rate: 6.2% (+1.2%)

🔹COVID: 1,505 (-8.8%)
🔹Influenza: 1,178 (+24%)
🔹RSV: 2,618 (-15.2%)

#COVID19nsw @auscovid19

Source: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/reports.aspx

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DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 21 days ago to auscovid19

Is long COVID forever? A new study has clues.

"A new study shows that an abnormally active immune system, a characteristic of long COVID patients, largely subsides two years after the initial infection."

Study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00065-8/abstract#%20

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/long-covid-inflammation-immune-recover

#LongCOVID @auscovid19

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DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 22 days ago to auscovid19

"I used to run twice a week, now I need a mobility scooter: The frontline medics who caught coronavirus at work but are now crippled by long Covid and fighting for damages."

#LongCOVID @auscovid19

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13362895/NHS-pay-fighting-damages-frontline-medics-coronavirus-crippled-long-Covid.html

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 22 days ago to auscovid19

🇺🇸 US: Hospitals no longer required to report COVID-19 data to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Reporting removed or made optional “in an effort to reduce burden.” 🤦‍♂️

CDC said it is encouraging “ongoing, voluntary reporting of hospitalization data.” It will begin making those voluntary data available for online viewing beginning May 10, per its COVID Data Tracker webpage.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the U.S. has recorded more than 6.9 million hospitalizations and nearly 1.2 million deaths attributed to COVID-19.

#COVIDisNotOver #COVID19US #COVIDisAIRBONE @auscovid19

Source: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/hospitals-no-longer-required-report-covid-19-data-cdc

DenisCOVIDinfoguy, 22 days ago to auscovid19

Victoria: "Charges dropped against Victorian health department over hotel quarantine program that contributed to the state’s deadly second COVID-19 wave."

#COVIDisNotOver @VicGovDH @MaryAnneThomas @auscovid19

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/may/01/australia-news-live-national-cabinet-domestic-violence-foreign-investment-budget-inflation-truth-telling-trade-house-prices-cost-of-living?filterKeyEvents=false#top-of-blog