A new study has found the Delta variant the most deadly of Australia's first three COVID19 waves. 9News
Australia has had multiple waves of COVID-19 infections since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, but the Delta variant third wave was the most deadly, according to new research.Dr Aidan Burrell from the Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said the data revealed that third wave patients showed "an increased risk of death" from bacterial pneumonia and pulmonary embolism.
The third wave was notable for greater use of non-invasive respiratory support over mechanical ventilation and lying patients on their front during mechanical ventilation, he said."However, despite these differences, the risk of dying was higher in the third wave and the findings reinforce the need to adequately resource ICUs, particularly during peak demand.
In those waves, 2493 people were admitted to 59 ICUs: 214 in the first , 296 in the second , and 1983 in the third.READ MORE: According to latest government data, 9599 Australians have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.