Aussies are being urged to observe good hygiene over the festive season, as one state battles an unseasonal enhance in respiratory infections.
There are at present 322 sufferers in Queensland hospitals with COVID-19 and 66 sufferers in hospital with influenza, in line with Queensland Well being.
The most recent information revealed there had been 2,162 instances of COVID-19 and 836 instances of influenza recorded in Queensland within the final seven days.
Queensland chief well being officer John Gerrard stated the current enhance in hospitalisations on account of respiratory an infection was uncommon for this time of yr for the sunshine state.
“The variety of sufferers hospitalised with COVID-19 began climbing in mid-October, plateaued all through November, after which took a stunning flip upwards once more in December,“ Dr Gerrard stated.
“The present variety of Queenslanders in hospital with COVID-19 is greater than 4 occasions larger than mid-October.
“Whereas influenza hospitalisations stay far under their winter peak (greater than 400), their summer time rise continues to be uncommon.”
There have been greater than 73,000 influenza instances recorded to date in Queensland in 2023, far exceeding the 2022 complete of 44,431.
Dr Gerrard stated the variety of exams coming again optimistic for Mycoplasma, a pressure of pneumonia, had additionally tripled because the finish of November.
“We now have not seen vital numbers of instances of Mycoplasma an infection since earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stated.
“The rise in instances corresponds with related current experiences within the Northern Hemisphere.”
Dr Gerrard stated folks gathering collectively extra incessantly for Christmas plus the inflow of travellers from interstate and abroad may very well be the reason for the present respiratory an infection fee rise throughout the state.
“I urge everybody, particularly throughout upcoming festive gatherings, to observe good hand hygiene habits and keep away from weak mates and kinfolk if you’re sick,” he stated.
“Older adults and younger youngsters are particularly weak to respiratory infections, so it’s vital we defend our family members this festive season by staying residence once we are sick.”
Dr Gerrard additionally inspired Queenslanders over 65 to get a COVID-19 booster if that they had not had one this yr.
New South Wales
On Thursday, NSW Well being’s newest information reported 6,210 instances of COVID-19, influenza and RSV had been recorded within the fortnight main as much as December 16.
“As we head into the Christmas interval, COVID-19 stays at excessive ranges and continues to extend throughout the group, particularly in younger youngsters and adults aged 17-49 years,” NSW Well being acknowledged.
NSW Well being warned recorded instances of COVID-19, influenza and RSV had all elevated up to now fortnight.
The most important COVID-19 will increase have been in folks aged 0-4 and 20-49 years, whereas these aged 10-29 recorded the most important enhance for influenza throughout the state.
In the meantime, the rise in RSV occurred in youngsters aged 0-4 years.
Victoria
In the meantime, Victoria Well being confirmed the variety of folks in hospital with COVID-19 had declined once more with a day by day common of 266 within the week ending on December 15.
The information confirmed the variety of these folks hospitalised was down from 274 the week prior and ending on December 8.
Nevertheless, the well being authorities warn the present common stays excessive in comparison with current months however nonetheless stays under the latest peak in Could and June.
“Quantitative wastewater measures point out there are excessive COVID-19 viral masses in Victorian wastewater,” Victoria Well being acknowledged.
“Metropolitan wastewater catchments have proven elevated ranges in the latest samples, whereas regional quantitative wastewater ranges proceed to stay excessive.”
South Australia and WA
South Australia recorded 1,674 Covid-19 instances within the week ending on December 13.
In the meantime, there have been 458 Covid-19 instances reported in West Australia between December 4 to December 10.
