Life under social isolation or mandatory "stay home orders".

[kingofnobbys]

1 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 230 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 55 PT4 < WA >

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1/2/2022 WA

WA recorded 24 new cases , WA local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 367 cases.

WA recorded 0 delta deaths.

WA Reff = 1.25

WA PCR POSITIVITY = 0.3%

WA DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS WITH CURVE

WA COVID-19 update 1 February 2022
WA Health is reporting 13 new local cases and 11 from interstate to 8pm last night.

Of the 13 new local cases,
8 are related to known clusters.
5 are unlinked to existing clusters at this stage and investigation continues.
All cases are now in quarantine and public health continues to investigate and monitor them.

Some of today’s cases have been infectious in the community. Contact tracers are working with these cases to determine potential public exposure sites which will be uploaded to the HealthyWA website when confirmed.

Today’s figures bring the State’s total number of active COVID-19 cases to 166.

Of these, 9 are in hotel quarantine, 156 are in self-quarantine and 1 is in hospital.

WA has recorded 1,551 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with 1,375 recovering from the virus.

Hospitalisations

One case, previously reported, remains in hospital.

Exposure sites

WA Health’s contact tracing team continues to identify exposure sites linked to new cases. High-risk exposure sites will be updated or added to the HealthyWA website. Please continue to check exposure sites regularly.

WA Health does not list exposure sites where it has identified all potential contacts or locations that can identify individuals who were there. People with symptoms should get tested immediately.

People who receive a text message from WA Health advising they have attended an exposure site must follow the instructions, even if the site is not listed on HealthyWA.

Testing advice

Library Nightclub:
WA Health is urging anyone who attended the ‘Club Bootylicious’ event at the Library Nightclub between 9:30pm on 22 January and 5am 23 January to be tested immediately and isolate until they return a negative test result.
People are urged to continue to check the exposure sites page of the HealthyWA website for updates, and if they have been to an exposure site to follow the listed health advice.

Anyone in the Perth, Peel, Wheatbelt and the South West regions – particularly the greater Bunbury area – experiencing any symptoms should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. This applies to anyone symptomatic – even if you have not visited a listed exposure site.



Testing figures

6,918 people were swabbed at WA clinics yesterday.

Vessels

WA Health is in regular contact with the MV Ballard off the Southwest coast. The vessel has been instructed to anchor off the coast.

WA Health continues to closely monitor two other vessels off the WA coast, both reporting probable COVID cases on board through positive rapid antigen test results.

All positive crew members on board these vessels are isolating in their cabins and are being monitored safely.

New information for the community about managing COVID-19

New information about managing COVID-19 at home and in the community is on the HealthyWA website.

SafeWA

Yesterday, 2,019,849 scans were recorded on the SafeWA app. It is important for everyone to check using SafeWA or the ServiceWA app will help authorities contact those who may be at risk quickly and effectively.


Border controls

Information about Western Australia’s controlled border arrangements, conditions of entry and quarantine is available online.


COVID-19 vaccinations

Yesterday we saw a surge COVID-19 vaccinations, 33,549 were administered in vaccination clinics in Western Australia.

Demand for vaccinations and third doses is increasing. To spread the demand across clinic operating hours and to avoid excessive wait times, people are encouraged to make a booking via Vaccinate WA.

Based on the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommendations, Western Australians 18 years and older are eligible for their COVID-19 booster vaccination, three months following the second dose of the primary course.

Vaccination is the best defence against serious illness or death relating to COVID-19 and we encourage everyone that is eligible for their third dose not to delay and book an appointment on VaccinateWA.

Vaccinations are also available at GPs, pharmacies and community clinics.


Children’s vaccinations

Parents are encouraged to book their children in for a vaccination as soon as possible via VaccinateWA.

For the latest WA vaccination figures, visit the COVID-19 Coronavirus: Vaccination dashboard (external site)**. For the latest Commonwealth data visit the Vaccination Numbers and Statistics website.


Mandatory vaccination information

A mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for most occupations and workforces in WA is being introduced in a phased approach. For more information on getting your COVID-19 vaccine, visit: Roll Up For WA.


Variants

To date, 482 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including 275 Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 138 Delta strain.

FIFO MINERS OUTBREAK
Mining giant BHP has confirmed a second contractor has tested positive for COVID-19 in the Pilbara.

More than 70 workers were forced into isolation at the Yandi iron ore mine, north-east of Newman, after a contractor returned a positive PCR test at the weekend.

A BHP spokeswoman said a second contractor has now tested positive.
"This person was a close contact of the initial positive case, and has been in isolation since Sunday," the spokeswoman said.
"They have not reported any symptoms.
"Contact tracing and deep cleaning at site is continuing, and other close and casual contacts remain in isolation as a precaution."

The two contractors, who tested positive, were working in BHP's rail team.

The spokeswoman said the health and wellbeing of BHP's workers was its top priority, and everyone impacted was being fully supported during their isolation period.

Casual contacts will need to return a negative PCR test before they can return to work.

Chief executive of peak resources body the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA Paul Everingham said the industry is prepared for the spread of COVID.
"Given that COVID has been in the wider community we have been prepared and expecting this to happen but we feel very prepared," he said.

Call for close contact guidelines to change
The WA Government last week announced new rules surrounding close contacts, isolation and testing protocols, but said the changes wouldn't be implemented until the state reaches a "high case load".

The CME has welcomed the new rules but called on the Government to introduce them now, rather than wait for case numbers to rise.
"Things like if you're COVID positive you'll be able to isolate for seven days as opposed to the current 14 and that will help bring people back into the workforce quicker," Mr Everingham said.
"The definition of close contact will also change so that will allow people to remain in the workplace which will keep an operation or a site open."

Border uncertainty hurts short-staffed businesses
Businesses in WA's north, affected by ongoing staff shortages as a result of the state's hard border, are also calling for certainty about a reopening date.

The Mayor of Karratha Peter Long said while he understands that some people don't want COVID in the region, businesses are struggling.
"It's been going on a long time now," he said.
"A lot of businesses have already collapsed and the ones that are still struggling they would just love to get it open.
"I hear both sides but I would really like [the border] to be open as soon as possible."

Mr Long also wants to see vaccination rates in the Pilbara region rise, which are among the lowest in the nation.

The latest Federal Health Department weekly geographic data showed fewer than 60 per cent of residents aged 15 and over in the Pilbara are fully vaccinated.

 

[kingofnobbys]

1 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 230 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 55 PT5 < SA , ACT , TAS >

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1/1//2022 SA

SA recorded 1266 new cases , SA local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 104810 cases.

SA recorded 3 delta deaths.

SA Reff = 0.86

SA PCR POSITIVITY = 12.0%

SA DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS

SA DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

South Australia has reported 1266 new COVID-19 infections as the daily case count continues to fall.
3 more people have died, taking SA's toll since the start of the pandemic to 120.

Premier Steven Marshall said the death toll was too high but the state was clearly over the peak of the current Omicron outbreak.
"The last two years have been an extraordinarily tough time for all South Australians," the premier told reporters on Tuesday.
"We can't be complacent but most South Australians can feel a great sense of pride in the way that we have worked together.
"There is an opportunity to look forward with optimism."

South Australia has 273 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 22 in intensive care and five on ventilators.
Active cases have dropped to 18,928 with the state's seven-day average down to 1763.
The latest figures came as state parliament's COVID-19 Response Committee was told that 60 per cent of retail workers had reported increasing abuse from customers after case numbers rose around Christmas.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association state secretary Josh Peak said a survey of almost 3500 workers had also revealed more than one-third had experienced or witnessed staff being spat or coughed on.
"From panic buying and staffing shortages to rampant customer abuse and COVID *****s to the imminent threat of COVID, retail workers have had enough," Mr Peak said.
"Since the onset of this pandemic, it's been our essential workers on the frontline, like retail workers, who have had to work through while others worked from home.
"Retail workers don't feel protected from the threat of abuse and they don't feel protected from the spread of the virus."

Also on Tuesday, the government revealed plans for the easing of restrictions on elective surgery with day procedures in private hospitals to resume from February 7 and in public hospitals from February 14.

All other elective surgery will resume by February 28.

Mr Marshall said while SA was one of the first states to impose restrictions, it was also among the first to remove them.
"We know that for many people, elective surgery is not particularly elective, with many South Australians needing their procedure sooner rather than later," he said.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

1/2/2022 ACT

ACT recorded 522 new cases , ACT local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 34439 cases.

ACT recorded 0 delta deaths.

ACT Reff = 0.86

ACT PCR POSITIVITY = 14.3%

included backdated positive tests.

ACT DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS

ACT DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

The ACT has recorded another 522 new COVID cases and no deaths. The new cases include 326 PCR and 196 RAT results in the most recent reporting period.

There are 64 patients with the virus in hospital including one person in intensive care on ventilation.

Nearly half of Canberra residents over 18 years have received a booster and 98.6 % of people over 12 years have had two vaccine doses.

Almost 70 % of children aged five to 11 have had their first COVID vaccine.

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1/2/2022 TAS

TAS recorded 699 new cases , TAS local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 30287 cases.

TAS recorded 0 delta deaths.

TAS Reff = 0.97

TAS PCR POSITIVITY = 8.7%

TAS DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS

TAS DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

Tasmania has recorded 699 new COVID-19 cases, up from 504 yesterday. The Department of Health said 16 people were in hospital but only eight were there specifically for COVID treatment.

One person is in intensive care and more than 3,900 people are in isolation in the state.

Just over 95 per cent of Tasmanians aged over 12 have now had their second dose of a COVID vaccine and 39 per cent have had a booster shot as well.

The state government is continuing to run pop-up clinics for five to 11-year-olds days out from the return to school.

Today there are clinics at Oatlands RSL, Sorell school and Strahan primary school, with walk-ins accepted.

On Tuesday, Premier Peter Gutwein said a system fault had led to some double counting of positive COVID-19 cases, when people registered a positive PCR test result as well as a rapid antigen test result.

Public Health deputy director Julie Graham said it had not affected the medical treatment anyone received.
"The main result was some people did get extra messaging related to being cases and related to being released from isolation," she said.

 

[kingofnobbys]

1 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 230 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 55 PT6 < NT > < NZ >

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1/2/2022 NT

NT recorded A HUGE SURGE to 1122 new cases , NT local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 15132 cases.

NT recorded 0 delta deaths.

NT Reff = 1.65

NT PCR POSITIVITY = 20.5%

NT DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

NT COVID-19 update
01 February 2022
There were 1122 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the Northern Territory in the 24 hours to 8pm on 31 January 2022. Of these, 759 were positive cases from a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

Following the submission of further RAT results, the case number for the 24 hour reporting period to 8pm on 30 January has been amended to 1122.

There were
606 cases recorded in the Top End Region,
159 in Central Australia,
54 in the East Arnhem region,
41 in the Big Rivers region,
13 in the Barkly region
and 97 are under investigation.

Cases recorded in communities under lockdown or lockout restrictions:

12 cases in Ampilatwatja
3 cases in Milikapiti
18 cases in Galiwin’ku
29 cases in Milingimbi
16 cases in Palumpa.
There are currently 132 patients in hospital, with nine patients requiring oxygen. There are 4 patients in ICU.

The number of active cases in the NT is about 6,165.

1,896 COVID-19 PCR tests were processed across the NT yesterday.

Public health measures
To slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and reduce the rate of transmission the following public health measures are in place across the NT:
A lock-in for Ampilatwatja, Milikapiti, Galiwin’ku, Milingimbi and Palumpa until 2pm on Sunday 6 February and for Lajamanu until 5pm on Monday 7 February.
A Territory-wide mask mandate (indoors and outdoors)
The Territory Vaccine Pass.

COVID-19 testing
Everyone should get tested for COVID-19 if showing symptoms. A number of NT Rapid Antigen Testing and Distribution Points have been established.

Individuals can collect RATs for free from NT distribution centres located in Darwin, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in our communities, it is important for everyone to follow all the health directions:

book your COVID-19 vaccine
check in using The Territory Check In App every time, everywhere
if you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19
wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly
do not go to work if you feel sick
maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres where possible.
View information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing.

A Northern Territory Aboriginal legal service is calling for emergency measures to be enacted at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre as the number of prisoners infected with COVID-19 has doubled over the weekend.

More than 300 of the total prison population of 626 are now COVID-19 positive.

It's a sharp increase from the 154 cases among inmates recorded at 3pm on Friday.

Acting NT Correctional Services Commissioner David Thompson said this "significant rise" came after a health team was sent into the facility on Friday to test everyone using PCR tests instead of self-administered rapid antigen tests.

Mr Thompson said that, as at 8.30am on Monday, January 31, 302 prisoners at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre were in isolation, receiving medical support and supervision, after testing positive to COVID-19.

The Alice Springs Correctional Centre currently houses 626 prisoners, meaning 48 per cent of all inmates are now positive for COVID-19.

All of the prisoners who have tested positive are reportedly showing mild or no symptoms, which Acting Commissioner Thompson attributed to a high vaccination rate and "comprehensive" infection control measures in place.

According to Northern Territory government figures, 94 per cent of eligible prisoners have now had their first COVID-19 vaccine and 86 per cent were double-dosed.

Prison has 'processes in place'
Acting Commissioner Thompson said NT Correctional Services was working to limit the outbreak's impact on the court system.
"NT Correctional Services has a number of processes in place so prisoners can still access justice services, including RAT testing prior to court appearances and video or audio conferencing," he said.
"However, at times, there may be some delays if a prisoner has tested positive and is in medically supervised isolation."

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) is calling for an emergency response at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, including the early or temporary release of prisoners, to manage the growing outbreak.

NAAJA principal legal officer David Woodroffe said the service was deeply concerned about the possible impact such a large number of cases could have on the prison's vulnerable population.
"If ever there was an emergency, we're in an emergency situation right now," he said.
"When you've got a prison system that's already at over-capacity or close to over-capacity, with a COVID outbreak with nearly half of the entire prison population positive with COVID, and with whatever impact's it's had on its workforce, [that] is an emergency.
"When you're in such a situation as this, this really does require the government to be considering and enacting emergency legislation, for either the early release or the temporary release of prisoners."

Mr Woodroffe said the outbreak was causing delays to court appearances and a lot of anxiety among prisoners and their families, who had reportedly received limited information.
"It it is causing greater concern and alarm," he said.
"We have a lot of clients who are in the prison system who are worried, [and] our service is also being contacted by families out in the community, about their sons, about what is happening."

Officers stretched amid COVID outbreak: union
It's unknown how many of the prison's 127 staff are infected, with NT Correctional Services declining to provide the number for privacy reasons.

Under the NT's mandatory vaccination rules, corrections workers must be fully-vaccinated.

United Voice branch secretary Erina Early, who represents corrections officers, said workers were stretched as "more and more" returned positive results or needed to self-isolate after being identified as close contacts or developed symptoms.
"More and more officers have been contracting COVID or they're getting symptoms and have to go get tested so it's taking them off the floor," she said.
"The biggest thing with the officers is they're just depleted, they don't have the staffing.
"People are very, very fatigued."

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1/2/2022

NZ DELTA WAVE & OMICRON OUTBREAKS

NZ recorded 125 LOCAL cases , NZ local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 12188 cases.
104 mystery cases.
78 repats from o/seas. again
NZ recorded 0 delta deaths.

 

[kingofnobbys]

2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56

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PCRs remain restricted in who can access them to test for covid.
RATs remain very hard to get hold of , further reducing the reliability of reported known VOC cases in all states with the exceptions of WA and NT where case loads are VOC case numbers remain low.

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY NEW CASES & DEATHS OVERNIGHT

AUS + 40090 new cases ==> 2482762 * and today's COVID DEATHS = 70.

NSW + 11807 new cases ==> 1023439 cases ,27 DEAD , ,+ve RATs are RECORDED IN NSW
VIC + 14553 new cases==> 848197 cases , 25 DEAD , PCR & +RAT RECORDED IN VIC *
QLD + 9630 new cases ==> 421865 , 16 DEAD , PCR & +RAT RECORDED IN QLD *
WA + 29 (local) new cases ==> 396 , PCR ONLY RECORDED IN WA
SA + 1723 new cases ==> 106533 cases * , 1 DEAD ,, PCR & +RAT RECORDED IN SA
ACT + 549 new cases ==> 34988 cases *, 0 DEAD .PCR & +RAT RECORDED IN ACT
TAS + 666 new cases ==> 30953 cases * , 0 DEAD , PCR & +RAT RECORDED IN TAS
NT + 1133 ! new cases ==> 16491 cases, 1 DEAD , PCR ONLY RECORDED IN NT

NZ + 141 (LOCAL) cases==> 12329 !, 0 DEAD, PCR ONLY RECORDED IN NZ , NO RESTRICTIONS ON PCR TESTING NZ <== ACCURATE CASE NUMBERS.

* not considered reliable numbers because in NSW -ve RATs are not being mandated to be reported and access to PCR tests is restricted ONLY to those ordered to be PCR tested and those who are symptomatic.
The concensas is the case numbers in ! are under-reporting actual case numbers to a significant degree , perhaps low by 2x fold or more.

Health experts are calling for a mandate for all RAT test results ( negative or positive ) to be reported and for free access to RATs for ALL Australians ON DEMAND.

COMBINED DELTA & OMICRON WAVE IN AUSTRALIA

NATIONAL DAILY CASES SNAPSHOT

NATIONAL PCR POSITIVITY = 16.4%

EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Trying to assess the true scale of Delta & Omicron spread in AU and the states.

NATIONAL CASES SNAPSHOT

16/1/2022 = 63051 #*#
17/1/2022 = 73818 #*#
18/1/2022 = 72850 #*#
19/1/2022 = 79565 #*#
20/1/2022 = 75668 #*#
21/1/2022 = 64513 #*#
22/1/2022 = 55124 #*#
23/1/2022 = 48981 #*#
24/1/2022 = 40683 #*#
25/1/2022 = 46845 #*#
26/1/2022 = 52613 #*#
27/1/2022 = 46872 #*#
28/1/2022 = 40174 #*#
29/1/2022 = 39889 #*#
30/1/2022 = 36383 #*#
31/1/2022 = 33921 #*#
1/2/2022 = 35350 #*#
2/2/2022 = 40090 #*#


#*# Rules for getting official PCR test in effect , many fewer people can now show up and demand a PCR test unless told to by their state's health department or they are sick + very long delays getting PCR test results ( > 4 days in NSW )
concensus is UNDERreporting because ! are NOW under reporting by at least 2 fold ( ie NSW case numbers are no longer reliable ).
backdated +RATs included.

NATIONAL DELTA & OMICRON DEATHS TODAY

NSW = +27 ==> NSW total in this DELTA WAVE = 1400
Victoria +25 ==> VIC total in this DELTA WAVE = 1252
QLD = +16 ==>QLD total in this DELTA WAVE = 991
SA = +1 ==> SA total in this DELTA WAVE = 120
ACT ==> ACT total in this DELTA WAVE = 26
TAS ==> total in this DELTA WAVE = 5
NT= 1 ==> total in this DELTA WAVE ( and for entire pandemic ) = 32
======================================
Australia = +70 ==> 3805 total since mid June 2021.

 

[kingofnobbys]

2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT2 < NSW PART 1><1>

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2/2/2022
NSW

Today (Wednesday 2 February), NSW Health is reporting COVID-19 information for a 20-hour period from 8pm on 31 January to 4pm 1 February, instead of the usual 24-hour cycle.

This is due to a change in our daily reporting cut-off from 8pm to 4pm, which was implemented yesterday. From tomorrow (Thursday 3 February), we will once again be reporting a full 24-hour cycle, from 4pm to 4pm.

Across NSW, more than 95 % of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 94 % have received two doses to Monday 31 January 2022.
Of people aged 12 to 15, 83.3 % have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.5 % have received two doses.
Of people aged 5 to 11, 40.3 % have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of 27 people with COVID-19; 15 men and 12 women.

Of the 27 people who died;
1 was in their 50s,
3 were in their 60s,
3 were in their 70s,
11 were in their 80s,
8 were in their 90s,
and 1 was aged 100. Older age is a significant risk factor for serious illness and death for COVID-19, particularly when combined with significant underlying health conditions.

4 people who died had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine,
14 people had received two doses
and 9 people were not vaccinated.
1 person who died was aged under 65.
A woman in her 50s was not vaccinated and had significant underlying health conditions.

12 were from south western Sydney,
3 were from western Sydney,
2 were from southern Sydney,
2 were from Sydney’s Inner West,
1 was from northern Sydney,
1 was from Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs,
1 was from the Riverina region,
1 was from the Port Macquarie area,
1 was from the South Coast region,
1 was from the Tamworth area,
1 was from Singleton,
and 1 was from Newcastle.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,451.

There are currently 2,622 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, including 170 people in intensive care, 72 of whom require ventilation.

There were 11,807 positive test results (cases) notified to 4pm yesterday - including 6,314 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 5,493 positive PCR tests.

There has now been a total of 264,463 positive RATs recorded since reporting began on 13 January 2022. The 5,493 positive PCR results were returned from 42,178 PCR tests. Following further investigation, 80 COVID-19 cases detected by PCR tests have been excluded and 729 cases previously reported as RAT-positive have now been confirmed as PCR-positive cases, bringing the total number of cases detected by PCR tests in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 833,283.

Of the 11,807 positive test results,
1,636 are from Hunter New England Local Health District (LHD) (791 PCR and 845 RATs),
1,472 are from Western Sydney LHD (766 PCR and 706 RATs),
1,501 are from South Western Sydney LHD (763 PCR and 738 RATs),
1,188 from South Eastern Sydney LHD (557 PCR and 631 RATs),
1,103 from Northern Sydney LHD (430 PCR and 673 RATs),
734 are from Sydney LHD (367 PCR and 367 RATs),
641 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD (319 PCR and 322 RATs),
648 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD (316 PCR and 332 RATs),
618 are from Central Coast LHD (311 PCR and 307 RATs),
471 are from Western NSW LHD (216 PCR and 255 RATs),
523 are from Northern NSW LHD (211 PCR and 312 RATs),
466 are from Murrumbidgee LHD (149 PCR and 317 RATs),
242 are from Southern NSW LHD (109 PCR and 133 RATs),
383 are from Mid North Coast LHD (48 PCR and 335 RATs),
30 are from Far West LHD (13 PCR and 17 RATs),
11 are in correctional settings,
and 140 are yet to be assigned to an LHD (116 PCR and 24 RATs).

NSW Reff = 7d mvg avg (t) / 7d mvg avg (t-4) = 0.80

NSW PCR POSITIVITY = 13.0%
no run-chart because of * and unreconciled backdated PCR and RAT+ data being recieved in dribs and drabs.

NSW DAILY CASES SNAPSHOT

NSW DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

G-SYDNEY LHDs

SATELLITE REGIONAL LHDs [ HNE, CNTRL CST, ISH, NBMts ]

NSW has recorded 11,807 new COVID-19 cases and 27 deaths, as state and federal authorities investigate why some aged care facilities have not received a booster vaccination clinic. There are 2622 COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals, including 170 in intensive care units. Hospitalisations are down by 127 on those reported on Tuesday.

The new cases were detected from 5493 positive PCR tests and 6314 rapid antigen tests.

On Tuesday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said state health authorities were working with their federal counterparts to figure out why a "relatively small number" of NSW aged care facilities had not received a booster clinic.

Aged and Community Services Australia chief executive Paul Sadler estimates at least one in 10 aged care residents are yet to receive their shot.

An Operation COVID Shield spokesperson said as of Monday more than 99 per cent of aged care facilities had received a booster clinic or were scheduled to receive one.

In his address to the National Press Club on Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he understood Australians were frustrated and disappointed with "how the global pandemic has played out over this past very difficult summer", adding he hadn't "got everything right" and would take his fair share of criticism and blame.

He stopped short of a personal apology when asked whether he would apologise for past mistakes, including travelling to Hawaii during the 2019-20 bushfires and regarding rapid antigen test supply. "We're all terribly sorry for what this pandemic has done to the world and to this country," Mr Morrison said.

He said the government was perhaps too optimistic about the challenges this summer would present and had raised hopes, noting the Omicron COVID-19 variant had triggered significant changes.

Mr Morrison said if he had his time again, he would have placed the vaccine rollout under military control earlier, and also conceded aspects of aged care — including moving patients between facilities into hospitals — could have been done better at a state and federal level.

He was asked on Seven's Sunrise on Wednesday morning whether his "real mistake" had been to claim in early 2021 the vaccination rollout was not a race - a remark he has since said he regrets making. "As I said very clearly yesterday, we had two big challenges - one was of course the blocking of the supplies that we had ordered," Mr Morrison told the breakfast TV program, "and there was also, later on, the big challenges of the AstraZeneca vaccine being limited in ... whom it could be provided for because we had invested in ensuring we could manufacture that vaccine in Australia. "The challenges we had early on around distribution [were] overwhelming, how things were being managed in Health, so that's why I brought in [COVID-19 task force commander Lieutenant-] General [John] Frewen, and it turned around."

 

[kingofnobbys]

2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT2 < NSW PART 1> <2>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

More than 40 % of those eligible in NSW have now have a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine. Of the 27 people who died, one was in their 50s, three were in their 60s while the others were all aged over 70.

Among the fatalities, four had received their booster shots, 14 were double-vaccinated and nine people were unvaccinated.

Speaking in Merimbula on the NSW South Coast this morning, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet welcomed the latest figures.
"There's still more to do and I want to encourage people … please go out and get your booster shot," he said.
"The success here in Australia, in NSW, has been our vaccination program.
"It has ensured less pressure on our hospital system, lower hospitalisations, lower ICU presentations and that's because of the efforts and sacrifices people have made over the last two years."

Liz Mullins from the Southern NSW Local Health District said it was "pleasing" that hospitals across the state were seeing a decrease in the number of admissions.

She said having a third dose of vaccine was a vital protection strategy. "The science is really interesting around the importance of this booster or third dose," she said.
"You get a good response from the first two but really it is that third dose that changes the cells and puts memory cells in to allow you to respond much better should you get the virus."

Dr Mullins said the arrival of the Novavax vaccine would provide another option for those yet to have their jabs.
"Certainly people who have been vaccine-hesitant have not wanted to use the mRNA vaccines and Novavax is a protein-based vaccine that's now been registered by the TGA for use."

She said the vaccine was expected to arrive in the country in the next few weeks. "So for those people who have been waiting for Novavax, please speak to your GP, find out from your local health service when it will be available."

The Premier was asked if he'd received any negative comments during his visit to the South Coast about his government's decision to lift restrictions in December as Omicron cases were rising.

He continues to claim "Lockdowns are not the solution, they cripple businesses, they put people out of work, they can't provide for their families," he said.
<< Letting it rip like he has , has been far from successful as more and more employees and their families are infected and become ill and forced into isolation , resulting in an unpresidented supply chain collapse along with an avoidable crisis in the hospital system because about 25% of workforce is now effected by inwork and inhome and social exposures to Delta and Omicron .>>

Mr Perrottet said the global experience showed that cases and hospitalisations increased even in countries that were in lockdown.
"The best path to take is the hard road and the hard road is to open up to allow businesses to flourish," he said.
"This will pass but we have to face into it and shutting down and locking down is the wrong way, it is the easy way."
<< His response is displaying unbelieveable stupidity & callous disregard for the health and welfare of the people of NSW ( and Australia at large ) .>>

Ambulances in NSW are taking longer to reach patients due to a critical shortage of paramedics. A Productivity Commission report released on Tuesday shows the median emergency response time in NSW is 12.5 minutes - the second-slowest in the country over the 2020-21 reporting period.
"In an emergency situation, those minutes really matter.
"The likelihood of survival for a cardiac event can drop by 10 per cent for each minute treatment is delayed."

The report found NSW was chronically understaffed with only 48.6 paramedics available per 100,000 people, ranking as the second worst state.

Per capita NSW has a third fewer paramedics compared to better performing states such as Queensland and Tasmania.
A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said despite surging demand on ambulance services, call response times for the most needy remain under ten minutes.

In the 2020-21 reporting period the agency, the busiest in the country, responded to 1.2 million calls, the spokesperson said. Emergency responses increased 3.7 per cent and urgent responses grew 4.6 per cent. "Despite this significant increase, we continue to respond to our most critical, Priority 1A cases, well under the benchmark of ten minutes," the spokesperson said.

Increase in demand is a major strategic focus for NSW Ambulance, as well as ongoing pressures presented by the pandemic, including time taken to put on and remove PPE. During the Delta outbreak, NSW Ambulance "fast-tracked more than 160 new paramedics to meet this demand".

The spokesperson added 294 graduates have recently been employed, 214 of which have started their induction, the rest of which start later in February.

The government has spent $9 billion on NSW Ambulance since 2011, and hired 1160 paramedics in that time.

The 2021/22 budget includes $1.4 billion for ambulance services. "The report is pretty unambiguous — in NSW we spend less, we have fewer paramedics on the road and patients wait longer to receive an ambulance," Mr Kastelan said.

Apart from the impact on patients, the severe shortage has also adversely impacted paramedics who are often working gruelling hours of overtime during the pandemic, with hardly any time for a meal break.
"While leaders may wish to blame our current failings on COVID-19, this data draws a clear line between poor outcomes and the systematic under resourcing and underfunding of our service," Mr Kastelan said.

The APA is calling for an immediate increase of 1500 paramedics to bring ratios in NSW in line with other states.
"Now is a critical time for our leaders to step up and make meaningful commitments to improve ambulance staffing".

AMBULANCE RESPONSE TIMES:

TAS: 14 mins

NSW: 12.5 mins

SA: 12.5 mins

QLD: 10.5 mins

VIC: 10.3 mins

NT: 9.5 mins

WA: 9.4 mins

ACT: 9 mins

Elective surgery classed as 'non-urgent' will begin resuming next week in New South Wales, but Premier Dominic Perrottet has been criticised for keeping those seeking a procedure in Sydney's public hospitals waiting.

The government announced on Tuesday procedures could resume in private hospitals that are below 75 per cent capacity, as well as regional and rural public hospitals.

Wait times for elective surgery have blown out during the pandemic as surgeries are cancelled to prevent overwhelming hospitals dealing with coronavirus outbreaks.

A recent report from the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing found those waiting longer than a year for elective surgery make up 7.6 per cent of the national waitlist, up from 2.8 per cent in the previous period.

Those figures were from the 2020-21 financial year, and do not include information from the suspensions of non-urgent elective surgery since June 30.

 

[kingofnobbys]

2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT2 < NSW PART 2> <REGIONAL>

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HNE
There are currently 59 COVID-19 cases receiving care in hospitals across the Hunter New England Local Health District, and two in intensive care units.
HNE reports the deaths of 3 people; 1 female and 2 males.
1 was in their 60s,
1 was in their 90s
and 1 was 100.

1 was from Tamworth LGA,
1 was from Newcastle LGA
and 1 was from Singleton LGA.

1616 recorded COVID-19 cases in the Hunter New England region. Total for Delta - Omicrom Wave = 88373

WNSW

Be COVID-safe all the time. Wear a mask wherever required. Wash and sanitise hands frequently. Socially distance wherever possible. Use QR codes. Take care around older people, or people with health conditions.
Plan ahead. Have a Plan C ready for if you, or someone in your household, needs to self-isolate.
Up to 4pm yesterday, there were 27 people in hospital with COVID-19 across the District. Of those, there were 3 in ICU.
There were 216 positive PCR test results and 255 positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) results identified in WNSWLHD.
Note, there may be some cases where people have reported multiple positive RAT results and/or also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period, resulting in duplicates.
Positive test results were identified in the following Local Government Areas (LGA's):
Bathurst - 71
Blayney - 11
Bogan - 2
Bourke - 2
Brewarrina - 0
Cabonne - 17
Cobar - 5
Coonamble - 5
Cowra - 21
Dubbo - 106
Forbes - 17
Gilgandra - 5
Lachlan - 10
Mid-Western - 25
Narromine - 12
Oberon - 3
Orange - 111
Parkes - 38
Walgett - 2
Warren- 1
Warrumbungle - 5
Weddin - 2

FWNSW
Far West LHD COVID-19 Update
There were 13 cases of COVID-19 reported from PCR tests in the Far West Local Health District (FWLHD) to 4pm yesterday**.
These cases are located
2 in Broken Hill,
3 in Central Darling
and 8 in Wentworth LGA.
There were 17 positive rapid antigen (RAT) tests reported for the LHD. (RAT tests are only reported at LHD level. RAT numbers may include cases where people have reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or where people have also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period).

471 recorded COVID-19 cases in the WNSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 20065
30 recorded COVID-19 cases in the FarWNSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 1403

NNSW
NNSWLHD COVID-19 update until 4pm* 1 February 2022
- 523** cases of COVID-19
- 211 positive PCR tests
- 312 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs)
- 33 in hospital
- 5 in ICU
*Today (Wednesday 2 Feb), NSW Health is reporting COVID-19 information for a 20-hour period from 8pm on 31 January to 4pm 1 February, instead of the usual 24-hour cycle.
This is due to a change in NSW Health’s daily reporting cut-off from 8pm to 4pm, which was implemented yesterday. From tomorrow (Thursday 3 February), we will once again be reporting a full 24-hour cycle, from 4pm to 4pm.
Confirmed tests by LGA (both PCR and RAT):
#Ballina 97
#Byron 55
#ClarenceValley 66
#Kyogle 8
#Lismore 61
#RichmondValley 55
#Tweed 181

MID N CST
There were 401 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Mid North Coast Local Health District to 8pm yesterday (31 January 2022) – including 362 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 39 positive PCR tests*.
Sadly, Mid North Coast Health is reporting the death of one person with COVID-19 in their 80s from Coffs Harbour LGA. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones.
155 are from Coffs Harbour Local Government Area (LGA),
127 are from Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA,
65 are from Kempsey LGA,
29 are from Nambucca Valley LGA
and 24 are from Bellingen LGA.

There are 67 COVID-19 cases in Mid North Coast hospitals, with four people in intensive care.
There have been 15,910 cases reported in the district since June 2021.
At our Mid North Coast Health clinics, there were 109 tests conducted yesterday.

SNSW
Two hundred and forty two (242) new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Southern NSW today (includes RAT and PCR test results).
Of the 242 new cases:
Forty six (46) are in the Bega Valley LGA
Forty four (44) are in the Eurobodalla LGA
Twenty eight (28) are in the Goulburn Mulwaree LGA
Ninety (90) are in the Queanbeyan Palerang LGA
Twenty one (21) are in the Snowy Monaro LGA
Three are in the Upper Lachlan LGA
Ten are in the Yass Valley LGA

MURRUMBIDGEE
MLHD has recorded a total of 466 new cases in the past 24 hours to 4pm last night. Sadly, we reported the death of a man in his 90s from Griffith LGA. We extend our condolences to his loved ones.
#Total PCR Tests 149
#Total RAT Tests 317
#Total in Hospital 25
#Total in ICU 5
Current active cases by LGA (as recorded by PCR tests only) :
#Albury 1,177
#Berrigan 131
#Bland 85
#Carrathool 18

#Coolamon 109
#Cootamundra-Gundagai 109
#EdwardRiver 95
#Federation 206
#GreaterHumeShire 153
#Griffith 894
#Hay 21
#Hilltops 306
#Junee 135
#Lachlan 26
#Leeton 210
#Lockhart 32
#MurrayRiver 171
#Murrumbidgee 99
#Narrandera 101
#SnowyValleys 278
#Temora 125
#WaggaWagga 1,549

523 recorded COVID-19 cases in the N-NSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 26052
383 recorded COVID-19 cases in the MID N CST NSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 16198
466 recorded COVID-19 cases in the MURRUMBIDGEE LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 20358
242 recorded COVID-19 cases in the S-NSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 12117

 

[kingofnobbys]

2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT3 < VIC , QLD >

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2/2/2022 VIC
VIC recorded 14553 new cases, VIC local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE is now 848197 cases.
Constrained by extreme shortage of RATs and restricted access to PCRs.

VIC recorded 25 delta deaths..
Omicron VOC is the dominant strain in Victoria as it is in NSW.
Density limits are in place in Victoria .
Vic Health has mandated that RAT +ves must be reported.

The statewide CODE BROWN in VIctoria remains in force.

VIC Reff = 1.05

VIC PCR POSITIVITY = 21.8%
NO RUN CHART AS DATA IS BEING RECONCILED

VIC DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS

VIC DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS WITH CURVE

Victoria has reported 14,553 new cases of coronavirus and 25 deaths as the state government extended its rent relief scheme to small businesses hit by the Omicron wave. Under the scheme, commercial tenants with an annual turnover of up to $10 million who suffered losses of at least 30 per cent will be able to request a reduction in rent from their landlord.

The Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme, created during the first quarter of 2020 and reintroduced in July 2021, was extended in January, allowing small businesses to defer rent.
Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford said on Tuesday that the new regulations would ease the financial burden for small and family businesses facing hardship caused by the pandemic. "Small and family businesses are going through a challenging period due to the Omicron wave and that's why we are extending the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme," she said.
Small businesses faced supply chain challenges, staff shortages and customers concerned about moving around the community given high case numbers.
The scheme, which will require tenants to prove the reduction in turnover, will be in place until March 15. The freeze on rent increases will also continue.

There are currently 73,886 active coronavirus infections across Victoria.
Of the new cases announced by authorities on Wednesday, 7621 came from PCR tests, and 6932 were self-reported from rapid antigen tests.
More than 17,644 Victorians received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a state-run clinic on Tuesday, taking the proportion of triple-vaccinated Victorians to 40 per cent of the adult population.
As of Tuesday, almost 260,000 children have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Victoria's rapid testing surveillance regime in schools has already detected 150 Covid cases but the state government maintains the system is working.
About 100 students and 50 staff from 121 schools across the state returned a positive rapid result on Monday, as most pupils returned to classes for term one.
The state government is 'strongly' recommending primary and secondary students and staff undergo twice-weekly rapid antigen tests at home before school, with those at specialist schools asked to test five days a week.
Education Minister James Merlino forewarned the return of classes would lead to increased cases and schools were in for a bumpy first few weeks.
With one million students and 110,000 staff in Victoria's school system, a state government spokeswoman said the new cases made up a low proportion of the community. 'The low but consistent statewide detection of cases through our school rapid testing program shows how important this initiative is in catching cases before they enter the classroom to keep school communities safer,' she said in a statement.
'All affected schools managed their cases incredibly well, with clear emails to families alerting them to a positive case and the details of the exposure so parents can monitor their students for symptoms and make their own public health decisions.'

Six million RATs were delivered to schools by Monday, enough for a fortnight, with 14 million tests to arrive over the first four weeks of the term.

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HOSPITALIZATION DAILY CHANGES IN ADMISSIONS IN NSW AND VIC

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2/2/2022 QLD

QLD recorded 9630 new cases , QLD local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 421865 cases.

QLD recorded 16 delta deaths.

QLD Reff = 0.84

QLD PCR POSITIVITY = 27.2%

QLD DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS

QLD DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS WITH CURVE

Another 16 people have died with COVID-19 in Queensland including a child under the age of 10 amid calls for more kids to get vaccinated before school returns. Queensland recorded 9630 new cases after 22,437 tests in the past 24 hours.
Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said the child who died had a "very serious underlying, rare, inherited medical condition".

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the news was "absolutely devastating".
"It's our very sad duty today to have to report our first young child that has passed away due to COVID," she said on Wednesday.
"It's absolutely devastating to wake up to hear that news.
"Can I ... please urge families to get their children vaccinated. School goes back next week, we are expecting to see increased numbers of cases.
"It is entirely a decision for parents, but unfortunately there are young people that do succumb to this virus."

Dr Gerrard and Health Minister Yvette D'Ath backed the Premier, saying vaccination rates for 5-11 and 12-15 age groups had to lift after slowing down before school returns.

The 5-11 group is at 35 % first dose while 75.5 % of 12-15 year olds have had one jab and 67.54 % are double dosed.
"I hope parents have not become complacent," Dr Gerrard said.
"I don't want parents to be frightened but if I had a child going back to school I would want them to be vaccinated."

Ms D'Ath said child vaccination rates were "too low".
"There is no reason whatsoever ...that our child vaccinations shouldn't be at the same rate (as adults)," she said.



The latest figures show that 92.07 % of eligible Queenslanders have had one vaccine dose, while 89.71 % have had two.

Six of the 16 people who died were not vaccinated and only two had boosters.

2 were aged in their 50s,
5 in their 70s,
3 in their 80s
and 5 in their 90s.

7 deaths occurred in residential aged care, taking the total to 114.

It prompted renewed calls from Ms D'Ath for the federal government to reveal how many in aged care had received a booster.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has accused Ms D'Ath of trying to "shift the blame" by raising concerns over aged care's booster access, prompting her to return fire on Wednesday.

Ms D'Ath doubled down, saying disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sectors that also fell under the federal government's responsibility had also raised concerns.
"So if there is any blame shifting going on here it is the Commonwealth, it is Scott Morrison and Greg Hunt when it comes to aged care," she said.
"It is my responsibility ... to raise these concerns because stakeholders are raising them with me.
"It would be irresponsible of me to remain silent ... we want to see that data."

Overall there have been 218 COVID-19 deaths since December 13.

Dr Gerrard said hospital numbers were steadily declining with 764 being treated (down from 801 on Tuesday), with 49 in intensive care and 23 on ventilators.

Why Queensland's Covid death rate is SO low .
Queensland has managed to keep an extraordinarily low Covid death rate by managing to keep the dangerous Delta variant out - so far.
The Sunshine State is also benefiting from its outdoor lifestyle, widespread vaccinations, new virus treatments and sheer luck, a leading infectious diseases expert said.
Over the course of the pandemic, Queensland has recorded 423,260 cases in total, but just 225 deaths with the virus - just 0.05 % of patients.

By contrast,
Victoria's 2,029 deaths made up 0.2 % of 833,216 cases
and NSW's 1,422 deaths from 905,794 infections made up 0.15 % of cases.
One major factor is that both NSW and Victoria had large outbreaks of the original virus and the Delta variant, while Queensland did not.

In private hospitals, 74 were being treated for COVID-19 - down from 67 on Tuesday - with one in ICU.

The vast majority of cases in Queensland have come after the state opened its border on December 13 and the Omicron variant spread through the state. Before that date, Queensland had recorded just 2,168 cases and seven deaths during the entire pandemic.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath on Wednesday said 218 people had died of Covid since visitors from NSW, Victoria and the ACT were welcomed back on December 13. That is over 96 per cent of its total deaths from the virus. As 2021 came to a close, Queensland was believed to have the highest percentage of Omicron cases in the country, with the variant making up 80 per cent of new cases.

Cases have exploded throughout 2022 after Omicron was let loose, but deaths did not mirror the rates in earlier outbreaks around Australia.

This is because Omicron is considered less severe than Delta and other variants of Covid, despite being far more transmissible. 'It does look like it causes more mild illness so that is a factor in our lower death rate, absolutely,' said Associate Professor Paul Griffin, an infectious disease specialist from the University of Queensland.

 

[kingofnobbys]

2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT3 < QLD > <2>

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Queensland's death rate is also lower than another state that tried to remain closed to interstate 'hotspots' for as long as possible, South Australia.

There, 120 deaths from 106,862 cases represents 0.11 per cent of all cases.
'The higher vaccination rate is certainly a factor for the lower death rate,' Professor Griffin said.
'We were more prepared because we were able to deal with it later.'

Prof. Griffin said the state also now has additional tools, including monoclonal antibody therapy for Covid patients, that people who were infected in earlier waves did not have.

And then there are the factors unique to the state.
'There are other background factors we've not completely put our finger on. Time and time again, despite our response being similar to the other states, our case numbers seem to decline quickly.
'We're relatively spread out, we have a more outdoor lifestyle and live in better ventilated homes... these factors also contribute.'

Importantly, Omicron's entry to the state once the border came down, causing a dramatic rise in overall cases, also occurred after vaccination levels had reached substantial levels.

Across the state, 88.32 % of the population aged 16 and over had received a first dose and 81.23 per cent had two doses of a vaccine by December 13.
'We certainly could have seen a much worse situation than we have with Omicron,' Professor Griffin said.
'I think we're a state that seems to have lower risk of those really high rates of transmission that NSW and Victoria have seen,' Professor Griffin also told the ABC.
'But I think also we've got a population who inherently try to do the right thing and so in terms of mask-wearing and social distancing, on the whole, our state has tended to do quite well with those simple measures, so that's probably helped us to a degree as well.'

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2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT4 < WA >

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2/2/2022 WA

WA recorded 29 new cases , WA local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 367 cases.
< 17 RESIDENTS , 12 FIFO OR INTERSTATE >

WA recorded 0 delta deaths.

WA Reff = 1.13

WA PCR POSITIVITY = 0.4%

WA DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS WITH CURVE

WA COVID-19 update 2 February 2022
WA Health is reporting 17 new local cases and 12 returning from interstate or overseas travel to 8pm last night.

Of the 17 new local cases, 15 are related to known clusters.

2 are unlinked to existing clusters at this stage and investigation continues.

All cases are now in quarantine and public health continues to investigate and monitor them.

One of today’s cases was infectious in the community. Contact tracers are working with this case to determine potential public exposure sites which will be uploaded to the HealthyWA website when confirmed.

Today’s figures bring the State’s total number of active COVID-19 cases to 178. Of these, 7 are in hotel quarantine, 170 are in self-quarantine and one is in hospital.

WA has recorded 1,579 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with 1,393 recovering from the virus.

Hospitalisations

One case, previously reported, remains in hospital.

Exposure sites

WA Health’s contact tracing team continues to identify exposure sites linked to new cases. High-risk exposure sites will be updated or added to the HealthyWA website. Please continue to check exposure sites regularly.

WA Health does not list exposure sites where it has identified all potential contacts or locations that can identify individuals who were there. People with symptoms should get tested immediately.

People who receive a text message from WA Health advising they have attended an exposure site must follow the instructions, even if the site is not listed on HealthyWA.

Testing advice

Library Nightclub:

WA Health is urging anyone who attended the ‘Club Bootylicious’ event at the Library Nightclub between 9:30pm on 22 January and 5am 23 January to be tested immediately and isolate until they return a negative test result.

People are urged to continue to check the exposure sites page of the HealthyWA website for updates, and if they have been to an exposure site to follow the listed health advice.

Anyone in the Perth, Peel, Wheatbelt and the South West regions – particularly the greater Bunbury area – experiencing any symptoms should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. This applies to anyone symptomatic – even if you have not visited a listed exposure site.

A full list of testing clinics and opening hours is available on HealthyWA website.

Testing figures

7,764 people were swabbed at WA clinics yesterday.

Vessels

WA Health is monitoring the condition of crew onboard the Ballard, a tanker vessel off the Southwest coast.
The vessel reported 12 of 23 crew returned positive COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.
Authorities are in regular contact with the tanker to be anchored off Bunbury until it is given approval to dock and offload.
All crew members with returned positive rapid antigen tests on board the Ballard are isolating in their cabins and being monitored.
The crew do not currently need medical treatment, and should it be required, processes are in place to protect healthcare workers and members of the public.
WA Health is providing advice to the crew regarding infection control management on the vessel.
WA Health is working closely with the relevant stakeholders, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Bunbury Port Authority.

The Department of Health, together with the WA Country Health Service, would like to reassure the Southwest community there are risk mitigation measures in place for all international vessels for COVID-19 to protect the local community.

SafeWA

Yesterday, 2,006,390 scans were recorded on the SafeWA app. It is important for everyone to check using SafeWA or the ServiceWA app will help authorities contact those who may be at risk quickly and effectively.

Border controls

Information about Western Australia’s controlled border arrangements, conditions of entry and quarantine is available online.

COVID-19 vaccinations

Yesterday we saw a surge in COVID-19 vaccinations, 35,108 were administered in vaccination clinics in Western Australia.

Demand for vaccinations and third doses is increasing. To spread the demand across clinic operating hours and to avoid excessive wait times, people are encouraged to make a booking via Vaccinate WA.

Based on the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommendations, Western Australians 18 years and older are eligible for their COVID-19 booster vaccination, three months following the second dose of the primary course.

Vaccination is the best defence against serious illness or death relating to COVID-19 and we encourage everyone that is eligible for their third dose not to delay and book an appointment on VaccinateWA.

Vaccinations are also available at GPs, pharmacies and community clinics.

Children’s vaccinations

Parents are encouraged to book their children in for a vaccination as soon as possible via VaccinateWA.

For the latest WA vaccination figures, visit the COVID-19 Coronavirus: Vaccination dashboard (external site)**. For the latest Commonwealth data visit the Vaccination Numbers and Statistics website.

Mandatory vaccination information

A mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for most occupations and workforces in WA is being introduced in a phased approach. For more information on getting your COVID-19 vaccine, visit: Roll Up For WA.

Variants

To date, 482 cases of variant strains have been detected in Western Australia – including 275 Omicron strain, 53 Alpha strain, 15 Beta strain, one Gamma strain and 138 Delta strain.

 

[kingofnobbys]

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2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT4 < WA > <2>

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Chaos as Omicron arrives at WA schools. Hundreds of students across three Perth schools are being forced into 14 days of isolation as West Australian Premier Mark McGowan doubles down on his hardline COVID-19 rules. WA's health department on Wednesday confirmed positive cases had been detected at Corpus Christi College and Harrisdale Senior High School.
It comes after a teacher tested positive at Winterfold Primary School, forcing dozens of teachers, students and parents into isolation.

The case at Harrisdale involved an entire Year 12 group who attended an orientation program earlier this week.

About 200 students who attended will be forced into 14 days quarantine.

It is not yet clear how many staff or students will have to isolate at Corpus Christi but photos shared on social media showed the entire K-12 student group attended an assembly on Tuesday.

The premier earlier defended WA's closed borders, strict close contact definitions and 14-day quarantine requirement as the state recorded 17 new local Omicron cases.

Qantas chair Richard Goyder and Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott are among the local heavyweights who have publicly criticised the premier, saying they will relocate to the eastern states to escape his policy settings.
International students have been left in limbo after being given just days to arrive back into Australia to be deemed eligible for entry to WA.

Mr McGowan has also faced blowback from the powerful resources sector after the virus spread to mine sites operated by BHP and 29Metals this week.
The premier has promised isolation periods will be halved for COVID-infected people and their close contacts but only when the state reaches a yet-to-be defined higher caseload. Hungary's opposition fights Orban's media strength one letterbox at a time
Australia's chief medical officer predicts the next wave of Covid

Hundreds of students across three Perth schools are being forced into 14 days of isolation as West Australian Premier Mark McGowan doubles down on his hardline COVID-19 rules.

The WA Principals Federation says the number of relief teachers has been "absolutely decimated".© Paul Miller/AAP PHOTOS The WA Principals Federation says the number of relief teachers has been "absolutely decimated".
WA's health department on Wednesday confirmed positive cases had been detected at Corpus Christi College and Harrisdale Senior High School.


It comes after a teacher tested positive at Winterfold Primary School, forcing dozens of teachers, students and parents into isolation.

The case at Harrisdale involved an entire Year 12 group who attended an orientation program earlier this week.

About 200 students who attended will be forced into 14 days quarantine.

It is not yet clear how many staff or students will have to isolate at Corpus Christi but photos shared on social media showed the entire K-12 student group attended an assembly on Tuesday.

The premier earlier defended WA's closed borders, strict close contact definitions and 14-day quarantine requirement as the state recorded 17 new local Omicron cases.

Qantas chair Richard Goyder and Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott are among the local heavyweights who have publicly criticised the premier, saying they will relocate to the eastern states to escape his policy settings.

International students have been left in limbo after being given just days to arrive back into Australia to be deemed eligible for entry to WA.

Mr McGowan has also faced blowback from the powerful resources sector after the virus spread to mine sites operated by BHP and 29Metals this week.

The premier has promised isolation periods will be halved for COVID-infected people and their close contacts but only when the state reaches a yet-to-be defined higher caseload.
"It won't be far away," he said on Wednesday.
"But just so you understand, the 14 days is safer. It ensures we have less spread of the virus in Western Australia, it allows us to get our third dose vaccination rate up without greater community spread of the virus.

DATA PROVES THIS

"What we've done has saved thousands of lives and many thousands of jobs, and that's the approach we will continue to adopt."

Mr McGowan added that WA's policy settings had made the resources sector the "most successful in the world" during the pandemic.

The government will make additional vaccination bookings available this month in a bid to improve WA's third dose rate, currently at 37.6 %.

Winterfold Primary School stayed closed on Wednesday to allow for deep cleaning after a teacher tested positive.

It will reopen on Thursday but with replacement teachers after isolation rules wiped out virtually all of the facility's staff.

Education Minister Sue Ellery said the infected teacher had attended a professional development day on Friday with 55 other staff.

They will all be required to quarantine for 14 days, along with 27 children who shared a classroom with the teacher on Monday.

The children's parents, and in some cases other household family members, will also have to isolate.

Ms Ellery had last week declared schools would be the "last to close" during WA's Omicron outbreak, which grew by a further 17 local cases on Wednesday.

She defended the government's policy settings, insisting there was a pool of about 4000 relief teachers ready to step in during future outbreaks. "The particular circumstances here are that the whole of the teaching staff attended the professional development day on Friday. That doesn't happen every day," she told reporters.

But WA Principals Federation president Bevan Ripp told ABC radio the pool of relief teachers had already been "absolutely decimated".

 

[kingofnobbys]

2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT5 < SA , ACT , TAS >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

1/2/2022 SA

SA recorded 1723 new cases , SA local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 106533 cases.

SA recorded 1 delta deaths.

SA Reff = 0.84

SA PCR POSITIVITY = 17.1%

SA DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS WITH CURVE

South Australia has recorded one COVID-linked death and 1,723 new cases, as students begin to return to school. The state now has 233 people in hospital — 40 less than the day before — including 21 in intensive care, with five on ventilators.

The case numbers increased by more than 450 on the day before, but Premier Steven Marshall said hot weather was to blame as testing sites closed and samples were not processed until yesterday.

Despite the numbers, Mr Marshall said he was hopeful South Australia was past the peak of the Omicron outbreak.

Classes have resumed today, with an estimated 35 to 40 % of students learning at school and the rest due back in a fortnight.

SA Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier told ABC Radio Adelaide this morning that returning to school was "a safe thing to do".
"Our modelling does show that we expect to have increases in paediatric admissions, but it's not a high number, and so we're expecting to have a little blip," she said.
"But we're still overall expecting to have our numbers decrease every day over this period of time."

Professor Spurrier said 1,317 of today's positive results came from PCR tests, while 406 came from rapid antigen tests.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2/2/2022 ACT

ACT recorded 549 new cases , ACT local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 34988 cases.

ACT recorded 0 delta deaths.

ACT Reff = 0.81

ACT PCR POSITIVITY = 14.2%

ACT DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS

ACT DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

The ACT has recorded 549 new COVID-19 cases. There are 61 patients in hospital, including one in intensive care requiring a ventilator.

About half of the national capital's adult population has received a booster dose.

The proportion of children between five and 11 who have received a first dose is sitting around 70 per cent.

The ACT has recorded a total of 36,897 infections and 26 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2/2/2022 TAS

TAS recorded 666 new cases , TAS local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 30953 cases.

TAS recorded 0 delta deaths.

TAS Reff = 0.97

TAS PCR POSITIVITY = 12.6%

TAS DAILY CASES SNAPSHOTS

TAS DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

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Tasmania has recorded 666 new COVID-19 cases, with the number of people in intensive care increasing to two.

There are 8 people being treated in hospital specifically for the virus, the same as Tuesday's figure.

Two of those are in intensive care, an increase of one.

 

[kingofnobbys]

2 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 231 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 56 PT6 < NT > < NZ >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2/2/2022 NT

NT recorded 1133 new cases , NT local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 16491 cases.

NT recorded 1 delta deaths. BRING NTs TOTAL COVID PANDEMIC death toll to 3.

NT Reff = 1.60

NT PCR POSITIVITY = 4.8%

NT DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

NT COVID-19 update
02 February 2022
The Northern Territory (NT) is today reporting the death of a woman in her 50s with COVID-19. The NT Government extends its sincere condolences to her family and loved ones.

The woman is from a remote community in Central Australia and had pre-existing medical conditions. She had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Three deaths associated with COVID-19 have been recorded in the NT.

There were 1,133 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the Northern Territory in the 24 hours to 8pm on 1 February 2022. Of these, 985 were positive cases from a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

Following the submission of further RAT results, the case number for the 24 hour reporting period to 8pm on 31 January 2022 has been amended to 1,038.

There were 691 cases recorded in the Top End region, 238 in Central Australia, 77 in the East Arnhem region, 35 in the Big Rivers region, 11 in the Barkly region and 81 are under investigation.

New cases recorded in communities under lock-in restrictions:

1 case in Ampilatwatja
2 cases in Milikapiti
14 cases in Galiwin’ku
23 cases in Milingimbi
18 cases in Palumpa
11 cases in Lajamanu.

There are currently 129 patients in hospital, with 13 patients requiring oxygen. There are 5 patients in ICU.

The number of active cases in the NT is about 6,575.

1,925 COVID-19 PCR tests were processed across the NT yesterday.

Public health measures
To slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and reduce the rate of transmission the following public health measures are in place across the NT:

a lock-in for Ampilatwatja, Milikapiti, Galiwin’ku, Milingimbi and Palumpa until 2pm on Sunday 6 February and for Lajamanu until 5pm on Monday 7 February
a Territory-wide mask mandate (indoors and outdoors)
the Territory Vaccine Pass.

COVID-19 testing
Everyone should get tested for COVID-19 if showing symptoms. A number of NT Rapid Antigen Testing and Distribution Points have been established.
Individuals can collect RATs for free from NT distribution centres located in Darwin, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2/2/2022

NZ DELTA WAVE & OMICRON OUTBREAKS

NZ recorded 141 LOCAL cases , NZ local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 12329 cases.
117 mystery cases.
55 repats from o/seas.
NZ recorded 0 delta deaths.

 

[kingofnobbys]

3 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 232 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 57

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

PCRs remain restricted in who can access them to test for covid.
RATs remain very hard to get hold of , further reducing the reliability of reported known VOC cases in all states with the exceptions of WA and NT where case loads are VOC case numbers remain low.

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY NEW CASES & DEATHS OVERNIGHT

AUS + 37196 new cases ==> 2520053 * and today's COVID DEATHS = 84.

NSW + 12632 new cases ==> 1036071 cases ,38 DEAD , +
VIC + 12157 new cases==> 860354 cases , 34 DEAD , +
QLD + 8643 new cases ==> 430308 , 9 DEAD , +
WA + 19 (local) new cases ==> 415 , PCR ONLY RECORDED IN WA
SA + 1583 new cases ==> 108116 cases * , 1 DEAD ,, +
ACT + 529 new cases ==> 35517 cases *, 0 DEAD .+
TAS + 656 new cases ==> 31609 cases * , 1 DEAD , +
NT + 977 new cases ==> 17563 cases, 1 DEAD , +

+ RAT+s are RECORDED

NZ + 147 (LOCAL) cases==> 12476 , 0 DEAD, PCR ONLY RECORDED IN NZ , NO RESTRICTIONS ON PCR TESTING NZ <== ACCURATE CASE NUMBERS.

* not considered reliable numbers because in NSW RAT-s are not being mandated to be reported and access to PCR tests is restricted ONLY to those ordered to be PCR tested and those who are symptomatic.
The concensas is the case numbers in ! are under-reporting actual case numbers to a significant degree , perhaps low by 2x fold or more.

Health experts are calling for a mandate for all RAT test results ( negative or positive ) to be reported and for free access to RATs for ALL Australians ON DEMAND.

COMBINED DELTA & OMICRON WAVE IN AUSTRALIA

NATIONAL DAILY CASES SNAPSHOT

NATIONAL PCR POSITIVITY = 16.65%

EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Trying to assess the true scale of Delta & Omicron spread in AU and the states.

NATIONAL CASES SNAPSHOT

16/1/2022 = 63051
17/1/2022 = 73818
18/1/2022 = 72850
19/1/2022 = 79565
20/1/2022 = 75668
21/1/2022 = 64513
22/1/2022 = 55124
23/1/2022 = 48981
24/1/2022 = 40683
25/1/2022 = 46845
26/1/2022 = 52613
27/1/2022 = 46872
28/1/2022 = 40174
29/1/2022 = 39889
30/1/2022 = 36383
31/1/2022 = 33921
1/2/2022 = 35350
2/2/2022 = 40090
3/2/2022 = 37196

Rules for getting official PCR test in effect , many fewer people can now show up and demand a PCR test unless told to by their state's health department or they are sick + very long delays getting PCR test results ( > 4 days in NSW )
concensus is UNDERreporting because ! are NOW under reporting by at least 2 fold ( ie NSW case numbers are no longer reliable ).
backdated +RATs included.

NATIONAL DELTA & OMICRON DEATHS TODAY

NSW = +38 ==> NSW total in this DELTA WAVE = 1438
Victoria +34 ==> VIC total in this DELTA WAVE = 1286
QLD = +9 ==>QLD total in this DELTA WAVE = 1000
SA = +1 ==> SA total in this DELTA WAVE = 121
ACT ==> ACT total in this DELTA WAVE = 26
TAS = +1 ==> total in this DELTA WAVE = 6
NT= +1 ==> total in this DELTA WAVE ( and for entire pandemic ) = 4
======================================
Australia = +84 ==> 3889 total since mid June 2021.

 

[kingofnobbys]

3 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 232 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 57 PT2 < NSW <1> >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
3 February 2022 NSW BREAKDOWN

Across NSW, > 95 % of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 94 % have received two doses to Tuesday 1 February 2022.

Of people aged 12 to 15, 83.3 % have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.5 % have received two doses.
Of people aged 5 to 11, 41 % have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of 38 people with COVID-19; 22 men and 16 women.
Of the 38 people who died:
2 people were in their 50s,
4 people were in their 60s
9 people were in their 70s
13 people were in their 80s and
10 people were in their 90s.
Older age is a significant risk factor for serious illness and death for COVID-19, particularly when combined with significant underlying health conditions.

4 people who died had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine,
24 people had received two doses,
1 person had received one dose
and 9 people were not vaccinated.

Of the 4 people who died aged under 65, 3 were men and all had underlying health conditions.
1 person had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine,
2 people had received two doses
and 1 person was not vaccinated.

9 people were from south-western Sydney
8 were from Sydney’s eastern suburbs
4 were from Sydney’s southern suburbs
3 were from western Sydney
3 were from the northern NSW
2 were from the Coffs Harbour area
2 were from northern Sydney
1 was from Sydney’s inner west
1 was from the Riverina region
1 was from NSW’s central west
1 was from the Southern Highlands
1 was from the Snowy Mountains
1 was from Albury and
one was from the Newcastle region.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,489.

There are currently 2,578 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, including 160 people in intensive care, 68 of whom require ventilation.

There were 12,632 positive test results (cases) notified in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday – including 7,147 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 5,485 positive PCR tests.

There has now been a total of 270,874 positive RATs recorded since reporting began on 13 January 2022. The 5,485 positive PCR results were returned from 38,848 PCR tests. Following further investigation, 66 COVID-19 cases detected by PCR tests have been excluded and 710 cases previously reported as RAT-positive have now been confirmed as PCR-positive cases, bringing the total number of cases detected by PCR tests in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 839,412.

Of the 12,632 positive test results:

1,737 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD) (831 PCR and 906 RATs)
1,636 are from Hunter New England LHD (669 PCR and 967 RATs)
1,473 are from Western Sydney LHD (777 PCR and 696 RATs)
1,288 from South Eastern Sydney LHD (583 PCR and 705 RATs)
1,214 are from Northern Sydney LHD (457 PCR and 757 RATs)
894 are from Sydney LHD (431 PCR and 463 RATs)
665 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD (310 PCR and 355 RATs)
637 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD (297 PCR and 340 RATs)
606 are from Northern NSW LHD (233 PCR and 373 RATs)
586 are from Central Coast LHD (220 PCR and 366 RATs)
522 are from Murrumbidgee LHD (155 PCR and 367 RATs)
470 are from Western NSW LHD (207 PCR and 263 RATs)
458 are from Mid North Coast LHD (53 PCR and 405 RATs)
244 are from Southern NSW LHD (98 PCR and 146 RATs)
36 are from Far West LHD (22 PCR and 14 RATs)
63 are in correctional settings and
103 are yet to be assigned to an LHD (79 PCR and 24 RATs).

NSW Reff = 7d mvg avg (t) / 7d mvg avg (t-4) = 0.81

NSW PCR POSITIVITY = 14.1%
no run-chart because of * and unreconciled backdated PCR and RAT+ data being recieved in dribs and drabs.

NSW DAILY CASES SNAPSHOT

NSW DAILY CASES WITH CURVE

G-SYDNEY LHDs

SATELLITE REGIONAL LHDs [ HNE, CNTRL CST, ISH, NBMts ]

NSW has recorded 12,632 new COVID-19 cases and 38 deaths, as millions of residents are urged to get their booster vaccination dose and eligibility was extended nationally to include those aged 16 and 17.
There are 2578 COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals, including 160 in intensive care.

Of the new cases, 5485 were from positive PCR tests and 7147 were from rapid antigen tests.

The state's reporting cycle has returned to a 24-hour period, after changes by NSW Health to move the cut-off time from 8pm to 4pm meant the 11,807 cases and 27 deaths reported on Wednesday were from a 20-hour period.

About two-thirds of people aged over 70 in NSW have had a booster vaccination dose, but figures provided to the Herald show less than a third of people under 40 have had the extra shot, although many only recently became eligible.
"I encourage every mum, dad and grandparent to tell their younger family members there is no time to waste. Get the jab," NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has extended Pfizer booster approval to include 16- and 17-year-olds, meaning those who had their second dose at least three months ago are eligible to receive a third shot at state hubs, GPs and pharmacies.
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NSW has recorded 12,632 new COVID-19 cases and 38 deaths, as millions of residents are urged to get their booster vaccination dose and eligibility was extended nationally to include those aged 16 and 17.


There are 2578 COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals, including 160 in intensive care.

Of the new cases, 5485 were from positive PCR tests and 7147 were from rapid antigen tests.

The state's reporting cycle has returned to a 24-hour period, after changes by NSW Health to move the cut-off time from 8pm to 4pm meant the 11,807 cases and 27 deaths reported on Wednesday were from a 20-hour period.

About two-thirds of people aged over 70 in NSW have had a booster vaccination dose, but figures provided to the Herald show less than a third of people under 40 have had the extra shot, although many only recently became eligible.
"I encourage every mum, dad and grandparent to tell their younger family members there is no time to waste. Get the jab," NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has extended Pfizer booster approval to include 16- and 17-year-olds, meaning those who had their second dose at least three months ago are eligible to receive a third shot at state hubs, GPs and pharmacies.
"This includes those who were aged under 16 years when they received their last primary dose and are now aged 16 years," ATAGI said in its statement.

Speaking on Nine's Today show on Thursday morning, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was "more likely than not" the definition of fully vaccinated would soon change ( will become minimum of 3 doses including at least 1 mRNA booster dose ) .
"That's my expectation, but we want everybody to be boostered in any event," Mr Hunt said.

Meanwhile, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has advised it is important not to eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth or chew gum in the 10 to 30 minutes before taking a saliva rapid antigen test (RAT) — dependent on individual test instructions provided — "as it may produce an incorrect result".

NSW Health, on social media, cautioned against these actions for at least 30 minutes "before putting the swab in your mouth" to obtain a saliva RAT sample.
"Rapid antigen tests can be very accurate when used as instructed. However, food and drink can impact the accuracy of the result," the department said.
"If testing before going to school or work, we recommend taking a test first thing in the morning, before eating, drinking or brushing your teeth."

AMA, health experts and NSW Labor are all calling for NSW should follow Victoria's lead and mandate third-dose COVID-19 booster shots for essential workers.
NSW is "last in its booster uptake", which Opposition leader Chris Minns says " is UNacceptable ".

NSW has received the most boosters of any state or territory but a larger proportion of the population is eligible due to being vaccinated earlier.

Some 41.7 % of eligible people in NSW have received a third dose of the vaccine, including immunocompromised people, NSW Health said on Thursday.

Adults are eligible for a booster three months after receiving their second dose of a vaccine, which 88.3 & of NSW people over 16 had three months ago and many of these people were vaxxed using AZ which has been known since Dec 2021 to be totally neutralised by Omicron and was the poor vaxx cousin cf with efficacies of Pfizer ( AZ is 32% lower than Pfizer and > 40% lower than Moderna against Delta ) , and efficacies of Pfizer and Moderna at 4 mths past the 2nd jabs is very low ( have waned to the the sub40% range against Omicron) .

Any who has caught Delta or Omicron recently are advised to wait until four to six weeks after their infection.

Delta and Omicron have ripped through NSW , and NSW has recorded > 1,000,000 KNOWN cases in the last six weeks and there have been > 800 COVID-DEATHS recorded in this same period.

 

[kingofnobbys]

3 FEBRUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 232 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 57 PT2 < NSW <2> >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The DELTA-OMICRON TSUSAMI in NSW is stabilising with hospitalisations plateauing and more health staff back on the job ( because close contact have been redefined to keep more workers at work and more workers are being made excempt from iso ) , but tracking the spread of the virus in the community is still a challenge.
Healthcare settings still have a "Red" status, the highest of the three in the state's COVID-19 risk monitoring dashboard, updated weekly.
But "available metrics continue to point towards a stabilisation of the outbreak".

There remains "some uncertainty around levels of case ascertainment".

As of Monday, 3034 health staff were in isolation after potential exposure to the virus, down from 4523 the previous week.
Fewer people were admitted to hospitals with the virus but those who eventually found themselves in intensive care units were staying there longer, with those patients spending an average of over a week in ICU.

There were close to 33,000 fewer positive cases recorded in the week up to Monday compared to the previous week.
NSW reported 12,632 cases and 38 deaths on Thursday, with 2578 people in hospital and 160 in intensive care.

But "available metrics continue to point towards a stabilisation of the outbreak".

There remains "some uncertainty around levels of case ascertainment".

As of Monday, 3034 health staff were in isolation after potential exposure to the virus, down from 4523 the previous week.

Fewer people were admitted to hospitals with the virus but those who eventually found themselves in intensive care units were staying there longer, with those patients spending an average of over a week in ICU.

There were close to 33,000 fewer positive cases recorded in the week up to Monday compared to the previous week.

NSW reported 12,632 cases and 38 deaths on Thursday, with 2578 people in hospital and 160 in intensive care.

Case numbers have subsided from peaks in mid-January, but it's anticipated the return of children to classrooms could cause case numbers to rise again, as the government warned in the lead-up to the school return this week.
Parents have been urged to get their children vaccinated and boosters for themselves if they have not done so already.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

NSW REGIONAL

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

HNE’
There are currently 53 COVID-19 cases receiving care in hospitals across the Hunter New England Local Health District, and 3 in intensive care units.
HNE reports the death of a female in her 80s from Lake Macquarie LGA.

1636 recorded COVID-19 cases in the Hunter New England region. Total for Delta - Omicrom Wave = 89009

WNSW

Be COVID-safe all the time. Wear a mask wherever required. Wash and sanitise hands frequently. Socially distance wherever possible. Use QR codes. Take care around older people, or people with health conditions.
Plan ahead. Have a Plan C ready for if you, or someone in your household, needs to self-isolate.
Up to 8pm last night, there were 26 people in hospital with COVID-19 across the District. Of those, there were 3 in ICU.
We offer our sincere condolences to the loved ones of the person with COVID-19 from our region whose death was reported in the 24-hours to 4pm yesterday.
There were 207 positive PCR test results and 263 positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) results identified in WNSWLHD.
Note, there may be some cases where people have reported multiple positive RAT results and/or also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period, resulting in duplicates.
Positive test results were identified in the following Local Government Areas (LGA's):
Bathurst - 56
Blayney - 12
Bogan - 1
Bourke - 1
Brewarrina - 0
Cabonne - 16
Cobar - 13
Coonamble - 1
Cowra - 17
Dubbo - 106
Forbes - 16
Gilgandra - 14
Lachlan - 9
Mid-Western - 26
Narromine - 4
Oberon - 5
Orange - 117
Parkes - 30
Walgett - 10
Warren- 1
Warrumbungle - 12
Weddin - 3

FWNSW
Far West LHD COVID-19 Update
There were 22 cases of COVID-19 reported from PCR tests in the Far West Local Health District (FWLHD) to 4pm yesterday.
These cases are located
16 in Broken Hill,
3 in Balranald Shire
and 3 in Wentworth LGA.
There were 14 positive rapid antigen (RAT) tests reported for the LHD. (RAT tests are only reported at LHD level. RAT numbers may include cases where people have reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or where people have also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period).

470 recorded COVID-19 cases in the WNSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 20535
36 recorded COVID-19 cases in the FarWNSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 1439

NNSW
To 4pm yesterday, 606 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Northern NSW Local Health District, including 233 positive PCR tests and 373 positive rapid antigen tests (RAT).
NNSW are reporting the death of 3 local residents from COVID-19.
1 person in their 50s from Ballina.
1 person in their 70s from Lismore.
1 person in their 90s from the Richmond Valley.

There are 38 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with 4 of these in ICU.
Confirmed tests by LGA (PCR and RAT included):
Ballina 89
Byron 55
Clarence Valley 94
Kyogle 17
Lismore 89
Richmond Valley 54
Tweed 207
Tenterfield 1 (Woodenbong and Urbenville postcodes)

MID N CST
There were 401 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Mid North Coast Local Health District to 8pm yesterday (31 January 2022) – including 362 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 39 positive PCR tests*.
Mid North Coast Health is reporting the death of 1 person with COVID-19 in their 80s from Coffs Harbour LGA.

155 are from Coffs Harbour Local Government Area (LGA),
127 are from Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA,
65 are from Kempsey LGA,
29 are from Nambucca Valley LGA
and 24 are from Bellingen LGA.

There are 67 COVID-19 cases in Mid North Coast hospitals, with four people in intensive care.
There have been 15,910 cases reported in the district since June 2021.
At our Mid North Coast Health clinics, there were 109 tests conducted yesterday.

SNSW
244 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Southern NSW today (includes RAT and PCR test results).
SNSW Health is reporting the death of a man in his 70s from the Snowy Monaro LGA. SNSWLHD

Of the 244 new cases:
25 are in the Bega Valley LGA
41 are in the Eurobodalla LGA
39 are in the Goulburn Mulwaree LGA
95 are in the Queanbeyan Palerang LGA
17 are in the Snowy Monaro LGA
6 are in the Upper Lachlan LGA
21 are in the Yass Valley LGA

MURRUMBIDGEE
MLHD has recorded a total of 522 new cases in the past 24 hours to 8pm last night.
MLHD report the deaths
of a woman in her 50s from Griffith LGA
and a man in his 60's from Albury LGA.

Total PCR Tests 155
Total RAT Tests 367
Total in Hospital 24
Total in ICU 5
Current active cases by LGA (as recorded by PCR tests only) :
#Albury 1,187
#Berrigan 140
#Bland 90
#Carrathool 19
#Coolamon 119
#Cootamundra-Gundagai 117
#EdwardRiver 106
#Federation 205
#GreaterHumeShire 153
#Griffith 839
#Hay 20
#Hilltops 322
#Junee 148
#Lachlan 32
#Leeton 213
#Lockhart 40
#MurrayRiver 177
#Murrumbidgee 104
#Narrandera 36
#SnowyValleys 298
#Temora 134
#WaggaWagga 1,474

606 recorded COVID-19 cases in the N-NSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 26658
458 recorded COVID-19 cases in the MID N CST NSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 16656
522 recorded COVID-19 cases in the MURRUMBIDGEE LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 20880
244 recorded COVID-19 cases in the S-NSW LHD. Total for Delta Wave = 12361