Australia reports deadliest day of COVID-19 pandemic as hospitalizations break record
Global News
A total of 77 deaths was recorded, exceeding the previous national high of 57 last Thursday, official data showed, as the Omicron variant rips through the country.
Australia suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic on Tuesday as a fast-moving Omicron outbreak continued to push up hospitalization rates to record levels, even as daily infections eased slightly.
Australia is dealing with its worst COVID-19 outbreak, fueled by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that has put more people in hospitals and intensive care than at any time during the pandemic.
A total of 77 deaths was recorded, exceeding the previous national high of 57 last Thursday, official data showed.
“Today, is a very difficult day for our state,” New South Wales (NSW) Premier Dominic Perrottet said during a media briefing as the state reported 36 deaths, a new pandemic high.
Only four of those who died in NSW had received their booster shot, prompting the state’s health officials to urge people to avoid delays and get their third dose soon. Thirty-three were double-dosed.
“There needs to be a sense of urgency in embracing the booster doses,” NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said. “For Omicron, we know that the protection is lower and we need that next boosting to get that higher level of protection.”
The surge in case numbers battered consumer confidence last week, an ANZ survey on Tuesday showed, triggering self-imposed lockdowns and stifling spending even as states looked to avoid lockdowns and keep businesses open.
Omicron also dented Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s approval ratings, according to a widely watched poll on Tuesday, putting opposition Labor into a leading position months out from a federal election.
Earlier this week, the B.C. River Forecast Centre issued a bulletin warning that the province was facing a "considerably" higher risk of spring flooding.
At least 296,180 more people came down with fever symptoms, and 15 more had died of COVID-19 as of Sunday in North Korea, a news outlet said.
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Hospitalizations and confirmed cases are falling again, suggesting the sixth wave has peaked, but the average number of deaths per day remains high.
Pandemic-related hospitalizations in Quebec stood at 1,754, a net drop of 67. In the last day, there were 92 admissions and 159 discharges across the province.
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At least one person confirmed to have COVID-19 has died in North Korea and hundreds of thousands have shown fever symptoms, state media said on Friday.
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Regardless of initial disease severity, the 2,469 COVID-19 survivors in the study had improvements in physical and mental health over time.
A generic course of molnupiravir is expected to cost about $20 in poorer nations, compared with the roughly $700 per course Merck is charging the United States.