Australians are being urged to get their flu shots as soon as they can by health authorities as several non-COVID respiratory illnesses are being reported.
Experts say that the influenza virus is expected to return with a vengeance after two years of hibernation due to lockdowns, masks, border closures and increased hygiene.
As international borders reopen, the virus is anticipated to find its way back into the community, hence, doctors are warning Australians to stay safe.
“All of the measures we put in place to reduce the risk of COVID has actually decreased the risk of getting the flu,” Angela Stathopoulos, a pharmacist at Chemist Warehouse said.
“So we’ve had very, very low levels for a couple of years.”
Meanwhile, there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases around Australia as well as fears that the new strain of COVID-19 can appear in conjunction with the new flu virus.
New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland have recorded substantial rises in COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours.
In NSW, 15,334 people tested positive for the virus. Eleven people died and 1584 people are in hospital. Seventy people are in intensive care units.
In Victoria, 10,293 have tested positive to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, up from yesterday’s figure of 9597. Twelve people died with the virus. Only one death was reported in yesterday’s figures.
There are 376 Victorians in hospital with the virus, with 19 people in intensive care, a slight decline from yesterday.
