Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly’s call comes as the government pauses plans to wind up the COVID-19 vaccine taskforce and launches a campaign to lift the takeup of boosters. auspol covid19
The nation’s top doctor has warned the latest Omicron subvariant poses a “significant” new threat, urging Australians to wear masks indoors as the government paused plans to wind up the COVID-19 vaccine taskforce and launched a campaign to lift the takeup of boosters.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 had “increased very dramatically over recent weeks” from fewer than 3000 to more than 5200 patients, close to the January peak of 5300 cases, while Kelly said the current wave was only just beginning.Butler said hospitalisations were “almost certain to increase further” over the coming weeks and the number of total infections was “likely to be more than double” the 300,000 recorded in the past seven days.
Lieutenant-General John Frewen had been expected to finish up as COVID-19 Taskforce commander within weeks and return to the Defence Department, where he has been appointed to the new role of Chief of Joint Capabilities. The vaccine program would then be absorbed back into the Health Department.“The government is focused on lifting third and fourth dose rates,” the spokeswoman said.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, made up of federal and state chief medical officers, on Tuesday published a statement outlining concerns about the rapid spread of Omicron variant BA.5, which the advisory group presented to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state leaders at Saturday’s national cabinet meeting.
The minister said fourth dose rates among aged care residents had improved, with up to 76 per cent having received one, compared with about 52 per cent last month.
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