As Australian states list positive results, experts worry about the accuracy of new case announcements as to how reliant health services can be on infection rates.
It has been clarified that Rapid Antigen Test results are coming in and being registered at a slower pace than PCR tests, often up to two days later. At this stage, lower daily numbers do not necessarily mean that cases are going down.
In any case, NSW has announced 20,293 new Covid cases and 18 deaths earlier today while Victoria recorded 34,808 cases and two deaths.
Unfortunately, chief health officer Kerry Chant has confirmed a five-year-old child was one of the 18 NSW residents who died overnight. They passed away at home.
The ACT recorded three COVID-19 deaths and 938 new cases with three deaths.
Meanwhile, chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, says Australia has moved into a new stage of the pandemic, the “living with Covid” stage.
At the same time, coronavirus vaccines for five-to-11-year-old children begin to rollout today.
Finally, Australian health authorities are preparing to make rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 free to millions of Australians, available at pharmacies. Eligible people will be entitled to a total of 10 tests for a maximum of three months. No fixed date has been given for the rollout.
The eligible candidates should have:
- Pension Concession Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange Card
- Health Care Card
- Low Income Health Card