Australia (Commonwealth Union)_ As the number of COVID-19 infections in New South Wales rises, masks are once again made mandatory in all hospitals around the state. As Australia’s fourth wave continues to reach its height, there has been an increase in the number of infections and hospital admissions throughout the country. According to the latest report, the number of confirmed infections in New South Wales jumped from 19,800 in the previous week to 27,869 this week, a 52 percent rise, prompting NSW Health to mandate masks in hospitals around the state. The health organization has revised its COVID-19 risk level to amber, meaning that masks are compulsory in all hospital premises and that the number of visitors will be controlled.
According to Deb Willcox, deputy secretary of NSW Health, “Implementing these changes now means that our staff and the community can look forward to the festive season with greater confidence. Family and loved ones can still spend time with patients; however, we do ask people to please limit the number of visitors coming to see patients at any one time”. Shee added: “Visitors, as well as staff, will now also need to wear a mask in all areas of a hospital or health service, not just in the patient areas, as was previously the requirement.”
Hospital admissions in the state have also increased from 974 to 1148 per week, an increase of nearly 18 percent. Admissions to intensive care rose from 32 to 37, a 15 percent increase. The average number of hospitalizations each day in Victoria rose from 274 to 352 on a rolling seven-day basis. This also represents an increase of 18%. This week, the state recorded 20,398 new infections, a rise from 16,636 the previous week. However, the average number of patients in critical care decreased by a whole third, from 12 to 8. Meanwhile, South Australia also witnessed a rise in COVID-19 cases each week. This week, there were 8346 new infections, compared to 6867 cases the previous week. The fatality rate was 3 this week, a decline from seven last week.
According to Dr. Therese Marfori, medical adviser at ACT Health, the region anticipates a spike in COVID-19 cases in the following weeks. This week, 135-175 cases were reported every day, a 41 percent increase from the previous week. Moreover, hospital admissions also soared. Marfori reported that it was the first time since the winter COVID-19 wave in July that hospital admissions had climbed in the ACT, while overall admissions remained much lower.
