COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Andrews’ secret Covid polling revealed

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Original article by Damon Johnston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 8-Mar-23

Victoria’s Department of Premier & Cabinet has belatedly released nearly 200 pages of documents and emails pertaining to research on the public’s attitude to COVID-19 lockdowns. The polling was undertaken by QDOS Research, which is owned by Labor strategist John Armitage. The government had frequently reiterated that its pandemic response was shaped by health advice, but the documents also show that it asked QDOS to undertake intensive online surveys and focus groups to gauge Victorians’ reactions to pandemic restrictions, as well as the performance of Premier Daniel Andrews during the state’s marathon 112-day lockdown. The government had sought for two years to block requests for access to the documents via freedom of information laws.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, QDOS RESEARCH

Covid deaths through roof amid age-care warnings

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Original article by Jess Malcolm
The Australian – Page: 6 : 8-Feb-23

Data from the federal Department of Health shows that the number of Covid-related deaths nationwide has risen to 9,332 since Labor was elected in May 2022. This compares with 8,471 deaths from or with COVID-19 under the former Coalition government. The figures also show that the Covid death toll in aged-care homes is 2652 under Labor, compared with 2415 under the Coalition. Shadow health and aged care minister Anne Ruston says the government has failed to protect the nation’s elderly.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

More older Australians working than ever before, data reveals

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Original article by Noah Yim
The Daily Telegraph – Page: Online : 10-Jan-23

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that five per cent of the nation’s workers – some 689,900 people – were aged 65+ in November 2022. This compares with 619,800 in November 2019, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Independent economist Chris Richardson notes that employers had to reconsider the value of older workers during the pandemic, due to the historically low unemployment rate and the lack of access to younger workers from overseas. He adds that Australia’s shift to a service economy means the physical negatives of ageing are now much less of a problem than in the past.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

China’s Covid payback threat

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Original article by Greg Brown,Will Glasgow
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 4-Jan-23

A growing number of countries will require travellers from China to undergo pre-flight testing for COVID-19. However, Chinese authorities believe that such measures are not necessary, and foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has warned that the nation will take reciprocal action against countries that impose testing requirements that apply only to travellers from China. Meanwhile, the federal government has released more details of its new rules for travellers from China, which take effect from Thursday. Amongst other things, they will have to test negative for the coronavirus 48 hours before departure, and people who use a rapid antigen test must have it administered and supervised by a medical practitioner.

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‘Safety first’: business leader backs virus testing for China

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Original article by Georgie Moore
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 4-Jan-23

Former Australia-China Council chairman Warwick Smith has expressed support for the federal government’s move to impose COVID-19 testing requirements on travellers from China. Smith does not expect it to have any impact on the ability of Australian companies to do business in China, amid signs of improving relations between the two nations. He adds that other countries are adopting similar measures. Meanwhile, the Opposition has questioned the government’s decision to ignore the advice of Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly, who does not believe that the new testing requirements are necessary.

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AUSTRALIA-CHINA COUNCIL,AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH

RBA’s ultra-low rate loans barely boosted lending

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 14-Dec-22

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s approach to monetary policy during the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to attract scrutiny. RBA analysts have undertaken a review of the central bank’s Term Funding Facility, which offered ultra-low interest loans to banks with the aim of providing support to businesses during the pandemic-induced economic downturn. The analysts concluded that there was little evidence that the TFF had increased overall lending, particularly to the small and medium enterprise sector.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Why haven’t I had COVID-19 yet? Am I a NOVID?

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Original article by Nathan Bartlett
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 14-Nov-22

The most recent survey of donor blood examined the proportion of people who had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, finding at least two thirds of Australians have been infected with the viral disease. As to those that have not had COVID-19 as yet, or NOVIDs as some have dubbed them, one possibility as to why they have not is that they could have immunity from it as a result of having previously been infected by a similar virus, while another could be their genetic makeup.

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Covid waves here for a decade or so

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Original article by Rhiannon Down
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-Nov-22

More than 54,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported across Australia in the last week; some 975 people are currently in hospital with the respiratory illness, including 32 in intensive care. Infectious diseases expert Peter Collignon has downplayed concerns about the new wave of cases, arguing that the key metrics of hospitalisations and deaths are much lower than in previous waves. He adds that new variants of COVID-19 are likely to emerge for the next 5-10 years. Meanwhile, epidemiologists say the arrival of the Majestic Princess cruise ship in Sydney with 800 Covid-positive passengers is unlikely to have much impact on Australia’s fourth wave of cases.

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Melbourne Institute & Roy Morgan – Taking The Pulse of the Nation: Long COVID linked to mental distress, unemployment and is affecting more women than men

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Oct-22

Several large-scale studies are attempting to measure the prevalence of long COVID in the population and its long-term impact. In this TTPN report, we examine the association between long COVID and mental distress and employment. The proportion of the Australian population who have ever tested positive for COVID-19 increased dramatically from 15.1% in March 2022 to 48.9% in September 2022, following the winter peak in COVID cases. Of those who tested positive, 15.5% reported that their symptoms lasted for more than one month; 6% of those testing positive reported symptoms lasting for 3 months or more. Long COVID affects a large proportion of the population who can have severe symptoms not usually associated with having a cold or the flu. These symptoms are associated with high levels of mental distress and unemployment, affect women more than men, and across all age groups, especially those aged between 50 to 69. Having a booster is the best long-term defence against the effects of COVID, yet rates of booster vaccinations remain dangerously low and immunity is waning. The Australian government needs to significantly increase booster shots using the best evidence on how to do this successfully. This report is based on a total of 1,013 respondents from data collected in September 2022. Visit the Melbourne Institute Taking the Pulse of the Nation web portal for further information and to access interactive charts and other findings: https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/data/ttpn.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE. INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH

More than one in five Australians worked from home at height of 2021 lockdowns, census shows

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Original article by Caitlin Cassidy, Nick Evershed
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 12-Oct-22

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 25 per cent of capital city residents were working from home on Census day in August 2021. Some 20 per cent of people nationwide worked from home on the day of the Census, which coincided with COVID-19 lockdown restrictions across most of eastern Australia. The figures also show that 31 per cent of NSW residents worked from home on Census day, compared with just 4.8 per cent in 2016. Likewise, 26 per cent of people in Victoria were working from home, up from 4.6 per cent in 2016. Australian statistician David Gruen says the 2021 Census provides a "fascinating insight" into how Australians worked and lived during a global pandemic.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS