VIRUS DISEASES – AUSTRALIA

Scandalous Covid betrayal of trust

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 30-Oct-24

An independent panel’s review of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has made 26 recommendations; it concluded that 19 of them should be prioritised over the next 12-18 months. The inquiry found that the public generally supported Covid measures such as lockdowns at the onset of the pandemic, but "draconian" measures were not justified after the initial wave and merely reduced trust in governments. The report noted that the nation is now less prepared for a future public health emergency because the health system has not recovered from the pandemic and Australians are now unlikely to comply with onerous restrictions in the wake of Covid.

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Vaccine ruling just tip of the iceberg

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Original article by Ellie Dudley, Lydia Lynch
The Australian – Page: 3 : 28-Feb-24

The Supreme Court of Queensland has ruled that the state government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for frontline workers such as police officers and paramedics was unlawful. More than 70 such workers pursued legal action against the government, contending amongst other things that requiring them to be vaccinated at the peak of the pandemic was a breach of their human rights. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says the frontline workers had been "vindicated", while legal experts believe that the Queensland ruling may set a precedent for similar cases in other states.

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SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND, ONE NATION PARTY

Immunity for mates: PM’s Covid cop-out

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 22-Sep-23

The federal government has been widely criticised over the limited scope of its commission of inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay has questioned why the actions of state and territory governments during the pandemic will be excluded from the inquiry. She argues that this will make it harder to prepare for future pandemics. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of prioritising the interests of Labor premiers over those of the general public. Dutton wants the inquiry to be given the powers of a royal commission, including the ability to compel people to give evidence.

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AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

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.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

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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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.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

McGowan flags end to WA’s state of emergency COVID laws

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Original article by Peter Martin
The West Australian – Page: Online : 17-Aug-22

The Western Australian government declared a state of emergency in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Mark McGowan says the government may follow its interstate counterparts and enforce its remaining Covid rules such as mask mandates via legislation rather than its emergency powers. National Party MP Shane Love says it is time for McGowan to admit that the state of emergency is over and surrender these powers. WA reported 2,145 new infections and one death on Tuesday, and the number of active cases statewide has fallen to the lowest level since March. There were 7,145 new case and 24 deaths in NSW, and 4,858 new infections and 20 deaths in Victoria.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Worst of Covid over, experts say

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Original article by Natasha Robinson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 10-Aug-22

Infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon believes that Australia’s winter COVID-19 wave has peaked. Infectious diseases modeller Romain Ragonnet says barring the emergence of major new variants, future waves are likely to be smaller and less severe, and COVID-19 will eventually become a seasonal event like influenza. Just 26,746 new COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide on Tuesday, compared with 35,659 a week earlier. NSW reported 10,043 new cases and 25 deaths, while there were 6,380 new infections and 44 deaths in Victoria.

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Dilemma over targeted vaccines

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Original article by Jamie Walker, Sarah Petty
The Australian – Page: 3 : 27-Jun-22

The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron are rapidly becoming the dominant strains of COVID-19 in Australia. They are better able to evade existing vaccines, but companies such as Pfizer and Moderna have indicated that they have had some success in developing vaccines that target these variants. While Australians who meet certain criteria can now receive a second booster dose, health authories may delay recommending a broader rollout until vaccines that target these variants are available. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is amongst those who support this view; the state recorded 5,824 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths on Sunday. There were 7,461 new infections and seven deaths in NSW.

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PFIZER INCORPORATED, MODERNA INCORPORATED, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET