Topline
Australia reported a record 47,816 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday as the highly infectious omicron variant continued to spread rapidly, putting a massive strain on the country’s testing regime and raising questions about the highly vaccinated nation’s ambitious reopening plan which involves learning to live with the virus.
Health workers conduct COVID-19 tests at the Bondi Beach testing clinic in Sydney, Australia.
Key Facts
On Tuesday, Australia both reported its highest number of new Covid-19 cases and total hospitalizations—2,682— since the start of the pandemic.
The massive surge in new cases has severely strained the country’s testing regime, causing stock shortages and lengthy wait times for results.
Despite this, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday refused to make rapid antigen tests freely available to all Australians, as he doesn’t want the government to “undercut” pharmacies.
In his interview with 7News, Morrison added that the country has to live with the virus and the rapid antigen test “isn’t a medicine.”
On the record number of hospitalizations, Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Sonya Bennett said that early evidence suggests that a majority of these patients were infected with the delta variant and added that omicron is “inherently, in itself, a less severe virus.”
Bennett also noted that she expects the omicron-driven surge to plateau next month.
Chief Critic
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese slammed Morrison and his government stating that it was responsible for the “largest public policy failure in Australian political history.” Pointing to Morrison’s call for more personal responsibility in tackling the virus Albanese added: “It’s about time the Prime Minister took responsibility for something himself.”
Big Number
90.48%. That’s the total percentage of Australia’s eligible population—people over the age of 12—who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 according to a tracker run by the Sydney Morning Herald. Australia began rescinding most of its pandemic measures once the national vaccination rate crossed 80%.
Key Background
After relying on some of the world’s most stringent pandemic control measures since the start of the pandemic, late last year, the Australian government decided to pivot away from a Covid elimination strategy. As it moved to rapidly roll out vaccinations across the country, Morrison indicated that Australia will “live with the virus” once a large proportion of its population is fully vaccinated. Over the past few months, the country has eased nearly all Covid restrictions as vaccination rates rose past 80%. However, the rolling back of restrictions has coincided with an omicron-driven surge, which has pushed the number of new cases across the country to record numbers.
Further Reading
Australia COVID-19 cases surge, overloading testing system (Reuters)
‘This is deplorable’: Australians furious as rapid tests run out, stalling work, family plans (Sydney Morning Herald)
With 90% Vaccinated, Australia Holds Firm On ‘No Lockdown’ Strategy As New Covid-19 Cases Hit Record Highs (Forbes)
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/01/04/australia-faces-deluge-of-omicron-cases-and-hospitalizations-as-it-sticks-to-living-with-covid-strategy/