Dr Kerry Chant issues a face mask warning as Covid spreads ahead of Christmas
>
Australians have been warned to wear face masks over the Christmas period as covid-19 continues to spread.
NSW Health Director Dr Kerry Chant said while the state had already reached its virus peak, it was still important to wear masks around people who are vulnerable to contracting the virus, such as the elderly. and people with pre-existing medical conditions.
“Wearing masks is an effective measure, but it is a personal choice, but think about those around you,” he explained.
NSW Health Director Kerry Chant says number of COVID-19 cases remains high in NSW
We still require people to wear masks in hospitals and senior care facilities, and it’s important that people meet those requirements in those settings.
“You can do these little things that reduce the chances or the frequency of getting covid infections.”
Dr. Chant stressed the importance of people who are vulnerable to the virus and eligible for antivirals having a plan for how they would access the medication if necessary.
“The frail elderly and people with underlying health conditions are more likely to experience serious health outcomes with Covid, such as hospitalizations and death. And that’s why antivirals are targeted at those groups,’ she said.
She said people needed to organize in case they were infected, as GPs would be operating limited hours and not all PCR testing sites would be open over Christmas and the new year.
“Rapid antigen tests are helpful, but if you have symptoms and a negative TAR test you shouldn’t rely on that, particularly if you’re eligible for antivirals, we’d urge you to get a PCR test.”
The number of active cases in Australia topped 100,000 last week for the first time since September, although 0.1 per cent of those cases are in intensive care.
Case numbers increased in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and ACT.
However, the numbers dropped significantly in both Victoria and WA.
University of South Australia epidemiologist Adrian Esterman said a nationwide spike was approaching, but cautioned that the data was based on reported numbers only.
“One of the problems is that we don’t really know how many cases there are,” Professor Esterman told the AAP.
Dr Chant has urged Australians to remain vigilant about Covid-19 as the Christmas celebrations begin.
“All we have are the reported cases and they are the tip of the iceberg because most people these days don’t report it.”
Access to free PCR tests will be limited based on changes to the national COVID-19 plan announced on Monday.
Starting next year, a referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner will be required for patients to receive a free PCR test at locations that are not run by a state or territory government.
Once the wave of COVID-19 peaked, Professor Esterman said cases would likely slowly decline before another wave began, a process that would continue for the foreseeable future.
Authorities had “decided that the Australian population has to live with COVID-19” despite the fact that around 12 percent of those infected ended up with long-term health problems, he said.
WEEKLY VIRUS DATA BY JURISDICTION:
* New South Wales: 40,695 cases, 74 deaths
* Victoria: 24,652 cases, 84 deaths
* ACT: 3018 cases, one death
* Queensland: 16,600 cases, 33 deaths
* Tasmania: 4045 cases, seven deaths
* SA: 10,754 cases, 21 deaths
* WA: 11,624 cases, 12 deaths
* NT: 831 cases, zero deaths