VACCINATION – Michmutters
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Australia

Christmas could be in jeopardy for a third year as COVID-19 waves set to continue indefinitely, experts warn

COVID-19 threatens to thwart many Queenslanders’ Christmas plans for a third consecutive year, but the New Year brings the hope of next generation vaccines that may better dampen virus transmission.

With experts predicting COVID waves to roll on indefinitely, Queenslanders are being urged to prepare for a “new normal”, with mandatory mask wearing expected to continue in “vulnerable” settings, such as hospitals and aged care.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard this week tentatively forecast the next COVID wave to begin in December, although he said it was impossible to predict its severity.

While the third Omicron wave has peaked, Princess Alexandra Hospital Director of Infectious Diseases Geoffrey Playford called on the public to remain vigilant by continuing to wear masks when unable to socially distance and to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves and “keep our healthcare system going as best as it can”.

“We’re all aware in other societies, particularly in South-East Asia, and North Asia, that mask wearing has been a part of normal business, normal society for quite some time – well before COVID-19,” Dr Playford said.

“It may well be that’s where the rest of us go as well.

A young woman wearing a mask.
Masks will be the norm for the foreseeable future. (ABC News: Elizabeth Pickering)

“Humans are incredibly adaptable, and I suspect we will just get to a new normal that we’ll accept as the normal moving forward and we will adapt to that.

“I doubt it will get back to the old normal.”

Hospital balancing act an ‘enormous challenge’

As the fourth year of the pandemic looms in 2023, Dr Playford said the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic had left healthcare workers concerned about the management of other diseases, unrelated to COVID, moving forward.

Dr Geoffrey Playford stands in a hospital corridor.
The Princess Alexandra Hospital’s Dr Geoffrey Playford says hospitals have grappled with enormous challenges.(ABC NewsEmma Pollard)

“People’s cancer screenings, people’s cancer management, all the other non-COVID-related health conditions need to be managed as best as we can side by side with the COVID response,” he said.

“Patients who have COVID need to be managed in specific areas of the hospital and that’s over and above all the other pressures upon our healthcare system and our hospital beds.

“That’s been an enormous challenge trying to balance both.

“Although COVID is circulating within the community and will always circulate within the community … we shouldn’t just be accepting transmission without trying to reduce it as much as possible.

“That takes the pressure off the healthcare system and allows all the non-COVID-related conditions to get the appropriate management that they deserve.”

People in COVID face masks at the Brisbane Cultural Center
Queensland’s third Omicron wave is in decline.(ABC NewsAlice Pavlovic)

In Queensland on Tuesday, 710 people were taking up hospital beds with COVID – down about 36 per cent from the third wave peak of 1,123 on July 26.

The state also recorded 24 COVID deaths in the previous 24 hours, taking the total since the pandemic began to 1,677.

‘Variant-specific boosters’ and nasal vaccines set to roll out

Federal Health Department data shows 65.81 per cent of Queenslanders aged 65 and older have received four doses of a COVID vaccine – just above the national average of 64.87 per cent.

While the first generation of vaccines have not generated herd immunity – creating immunity within the population to effectively quell the spread of COVID – they have been highly successful in reducing hospitalization and death.

A man wearing a shirt, blazer and blue glasses standing in front of ferns.
Infectious diseases specialist Paul Griffin says more than 100 COVID vaccines are undergoing clinical trials.(Supplied)

Infectious disease physician Paul Griffin said 2023 should see the availability of second-generation COVID jabs, including a “variant-specific booster”, that may be better at hosing down infections.

“We’re going to get improved tools to combat this virus,” he said.

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Categories
Australia

Queensland’s latest COVID wave has passed, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says

Queensland has passed the peak of the third COVID wave with it expected to end in the coming weeks, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.

Ms Palaszczuk made the announcement at the Ekka today with hospitalization numbers falling steadily since last month.

“We actually peaked around July 25… that’s excellent news,” she said.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said the news came much earlier than national modeling had predicted.

“We believe this fantastic result is because Queenslanders have responded to national advice. Namely to get heir boosters, stay at home when sick, take anti-viral medicines and wear a mask in indoor crowded environments,” he said.

Queenslanders are still being urged to get their booster shots and wear a mask when they are indoors.

He said main indicator numbers – including hospitalizations and active cases – had fallen by 45 per cent or more since July 26.

COVID wave ‘every three months’

Dr Gerrard said the wave was expected to end in the coming weeks but another wave was expected in December.

“The virus is not going to go away. We are going to continue to have ongoing transmission,” he said.

“The current pattern we have seen in Queensland and worldwide is a wave every three months.

“We still believe it is likely there will be a further wave this year, but it is likely as time goes by, these waves will become milder in severity.

“Everyone now knows what they need to do.”

Currently 667 people are in hospital with the virus; compared with 1,123 at the peak of the wave.

“There are still 26 patients in the intensive care unit,” Dr Gerrard said.

There were just 2,504 new cases today and there are 35,482 active cases.

That’s a 47 per cent decrease from the peak of 66,569 on July 26.

Monkeypox vaccine available soon

The initial supplies of monkeypox vaccine will arrive in Queensland this week.

The vaccine will be targeted to very close contacts and high-risk cases.

“Initially the numbers of doses will be small and that will escalate in coming weeks and months,” Dr Gerrard said.

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Categories
Australia

Going to the Ekka? Here are the best ways to avoid getting sick with COVID-19, monkeypox or the flu

As throngs of people flock to the Ekka showgrounds, authorities are concerned about a potential spike in COVID-19 and influenza cases in the Queensland community.

A string of illnesses remain in the community with COVID cases still high, the flu season not yet over and cases of monkeypox being reported interstate.

With some 1,300 head of cattle at the showgrounds, health authorities have also added a potentially devastating foot-and-mouth-disease outbreak to their list of concerns, though the risk remains low.

Back after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus, Ekka crowds have exceeded expectations with people steadily streaming through the gates.

Virologist Lara Herrero said the Ekka event would inevitably lead to a spike in transmission of both COVID and the flu.

“I have absolutely no doubt there will be an increase in transmission for an event like that — it’s simple mathematics,” she said.

Dr Lara Herrero in the lab wearing a lab gown.
Lara Herrero says the Ekka is likely to cause a jump in cases. (Supplied: Griffith University)

So how can you safely hit the Ekka to devour a dagwood dog without getting sick?

Here are Dr Herrero’s five key pieces of advice:

1. Don’t get slack

Dr Herrero reminded those hitting the show to stay vigilant by employing all the usual tactics.

“Monitor for any symptoms at all,” she said.

“Try your best to keep that 1.5 meters of social distancing where you can.

“Bring your own alcohol wipes and hand sanitiser.

“Avoid shaking hands and hugging — I would still opt to first bump or wave.”

2. Wear a mask

People stand in front of toys at a show.
Queenslanders at Brisbane’s Ekka Show — some masked up and others not.(ABC News: Marton Dobras)

You know the drill.

Free masks will be available upon entry to the showgrounds. If in doubt, mask up.

Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said he was impressed with the “reasonable amount of people wearing a mask”.

“Bring your mask along or get one on entry, make sure your protected and you’ll have no issues,” he said.

Queensland Health has encouraged everyone at the Ekka to wear a face mask, “not only for themselves but for every other person who is there to celebrate safely”.

Dr Herrero said she had no doubt people who live in the regions that come to the Ekka and return home to regional and rural areas will bring infection back with them.

“We have more cases in the city because we have more people, we’re living in a high-density community with more cases.

“So by sheer numbers, I have no doubt transmission on the regions will go up.

“It’s a good idea for those people returning to regional and remote areas to wear a mask for 24-48 hours to stop transmission to vulnerable people”

3. Stay away if unwell

“The Ekka is all about community spirit so if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, have a bit of community spirit and stay at home,” Dr Herrero said.

Mr Furner advised anyone feeling under the weather to stay well away from the showgrounds, get tested and isolate.

“We don’t want people coming here spreading illness, whether it be the flu or COVID,” he said.

“Keep away if you’re feeling unwell and get tested.”

4. Wash your shoes and clothes of foreign dirt

People look at animals at royal show.
Ekka show visitors should maintain good hand hygiene when playing with the agricultural animals amid fears of a foot-and-mouth-disease outbreak.(ABC News: Marton Dobras)

The Ekka show is the largest showing of stud beef in the southern hemisphere with some 1,300 head of cattle at the showgrounds.

This has sparked fears of a foot-and-mouth-disease outbreak that could cost the industry an estimated $80 billion.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Wyatt estimated there was an 11.6 per cent risk of a potentially devastating outbreak occurring which would trigger a 72-hour national livestock standstill and longer-term movement controls on animals.

A preventive task force has been established with border security on-site.

Dr Herrero strongly advised people who live in agricultural areas to wash their shoes and clothes of dirt or mud from any other agricultural region to avoid an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

With one case of monkeypox recorded in Queensland, authorities are also asking patrons to stay vigilant and monitor for symptoms.

5. Get vaccinated

A vial rests on a gause swab with monkeypox written on it
Monkeypox vaccine is not yet available to the Australian public.(Reuters: Given Ruvic)

With a little more than three weeks of winter remaining, most of you would have had your COVID and flu vaccines by now.

the fourth COVID vaccine orwinter shot” is available for all Australians over the age of 30, as well as:

  • People aged 16 years and above who are severely immunocompromised
  • People aged 16 years and above who have a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness
  • People aged 16 years and above who have disabilities with significant, complex, or multiple health issues, which increase the risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19 infection.

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Categories
US

US declares monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency

Aug 4 (Reuters) – The United States has declared monkeypox a public health emergency, the health secretary said on Thursday, a move expected to free up additional funding and tools to fight the disease.

The US tally topped 6,600 on Wednesday, almost all of the cases among men who have sex with men.

“We’re prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take monkeypox seriously,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said at a briefing.

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The declaration will improve the availability of data on monkeypox infections that is needed for the response, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said, speaking alongside Bacerra.

The US government has come under pressure for its handling of the outbreak.

The disease began spreading in Europe before moving to the United States, which now has the most cases in the world. Vaccines and treatments have been in short supply and the disease often left for historically underfunded sexual health clinics to manage. read more

The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern,” its highest alert level. The WHO declaration last month sought to trigger a coordinated international response and unlock funding to collaborate on vaccines and treatments. read more

Governments are deploying vaccines and treatments that were first approved for smallpox but also work for monkeypox.

The US government has distributed 600,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s (BAVA.CO) Jynneos vaccine and deployed 14,000 of Siga Technologies’ (SIGA.O) TPOXX treatment, officials said, though they did not disclose how many have been administered.

Walensky said the government aims to vaccinate more than 1.6 million high-risk individuals.

US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf said the agency was considering freeing up more Jynneos vaccine doses by allowing doctors to draw 5 doses of vaccine from each vial instead of the current 1 dose by using a different subcutaneous method of inoculation.

US President Joe Biden this month appointed two federal officials to coordinate his administration’s response to monkeypox, following declarations of emergencies by California, Illinois and New York. read more

First identified in monkeys in 1958, the disease has mild symptoms including fever, aches and pus-filled skin lesions, and people tend to recover from it within two to four weeks, the WHO says. It spreads through close physical contact and is rarely fatal.

Anthony Fauci, Biden’s chief medical adviser, told Reuters on Thursday that it was critical to engage leaders from the gay community as part of efforts to rein in the outbreak, but cautioned against stigmatizing the lifestyle.

“Engagement of the community has always come to be successful,” Fauci said.

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Reporting by Manas Mishra and Amruta Khandekar in Bengaluru, Ismail Shakil in Ottawa, Caroline Humer and Leela de Kretser, Editing by Anil D’Silva, Deepa Babington and Howard Goller

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Categories
Technology

Apple drops mask requirements for most of its corporate workers – The Verge

People await the start of a product launch event at Apple’s new campus in Cupertino, California, US September 12, 2017. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

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Aug 1 (Reuters) – Apple Inc is dropping its mask mandate for corporate employees at most locations, the Verge reported on Monday, citing an internal memo. (https://bit.ly/3oJ3EQN)

This comes even as COVID-19 infections in the United States have been on the rise with the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant accounting for more than 90% of infections, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

These subvariants have significant mutations from the earliest versions of Omicron and protection from vaccines wanes over time.

“Don’t hesitate to continue wearing a face mask if you feel more comfortable doing so,” the report quoted Apple as saying in the internal email. “Also, please respect every individual’s decision to wear a mask or not.”

Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment outside regular business hours.

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Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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