Omicron: First death in Australia, where authorities insist on opening plan

Australian authorities announced today the first death due to complications of COVID-19 in a person infected with the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus and a new rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections, without announcing new restrictive measures, arguing that hospital admissions remain low.

Omicron’s first victim was an eighty-year-old with underlying diseases. His death is a macabre milestone for a country that was recently forced to suspend the opening of its economy in phases after almost two years of imposing and lifting lockdowns, due to the new outbreak.

Omicron, which experts say looks more contagious than other strains, but does not necessarily cause a more severe form of the disease, has begun to spread across the country of Oceania as it has just begun to lift restrictions on most of its borders and allow to Australians repatriated without being quarantined. Increase the number of cases to a record level.

Authorities did not provide further details about the death, other than that he contracted a nursing home and died at a Sydney hospital.

This is “the first known death associated with the Omicron concern variant in the (state) of New South Wales,” said epidemiologist Christine Shelley in a video released by the local government.

It was one of six deaths recorded in Australia in the past 24 hours. They were all found in the two most populous states in the country, New South Wales and Victoria, where more than half of the island’s population (25 million) lives.

New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland announced a total of 9,107 cases of the new coronavirus today, putting the country on track to set a new record. The other five states and regions have not yet released data on the epidemiological situation.

“Although we are seeing an increase in the number of cases (…) we are not seeing a significant impact on our hospital system,” said Anastasia Palachuk, Queensland’s prime minister, who reported 784 cases of SARS-CoV-2, but 4 admissions to hospitals.

While the waiting time for people hoping to travel from one state to another has reached six hours, Ms Palachuk defended the policy of requiring mandatory molecular exams: “Everyone knew when they booked a ticket that if they wanted to come they had to to undergo PCR testing, “he said. The measure is intended to “protect” Queensland citizens and visitors themselves, he added.

Australian authorities are resisting calls to reinstate the looting due to an outbreak of infections, limited to reinstating restrictive measures.

SOURCE: AMPE