WEB DESK
In Australia, hospital admissions for COVID-19 have reached a new high for a second straight day, data showed today. The daily death toll also rose to its second-highest as an outbreak fuelled by a Corona virus sub-variant sweeps the country. Local media reports that nearly 5,600 patients infected with COVID are in hospital while 100 new deaths were reported, just short of a record 102 deaths on Saturday. Nearly 3,30,000 infections have been reported over the last seven days and authorities saying that the real numbers could be double.
Along with rising hospitalisations, many front-line workers are off sick or in isolation, worsening the crisis. In Victoria state, more than eight per cent of staff in the health sector, or about 10,000 employees, are off sick, Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters.
According to media, Queensland, battling its worst outbreak in the pandemic, expects its patient numbers to peak in around late August, modelling from the state’s health department showed. The COVID flare-up is being driven by the highly infectious BA.4/5 Omicron sub-variant and it is putting severe pressure on hospitals and retirement homes.
Like many countries, Australia has ditched its toughest Corona virus precautions and has been living with the virus since early this year.