Now few people are wearing masks in public areas, even in Victoria, you still have to do so using public transport and hospitals or other high-risk locations. It is clear that most people feel that the Covid pandemic is over. However, epidemiologists keep on reminding everybody that Covid is still here.
Up to now, 8470 persons have died in Covid with over 6000 dying in the first five months of 2022. The total number of the infected case has passed 7.24 million with most of them happening in the past 5 months. Every day, we are still having about 50,000 infections. With winter coming, and the outbreak of flu infections, the hospital and healthcare workers are under great pressure.
The Australia Medical Association has urged the voluntary use of masks in the public area in order to slow down the spread of the virus. NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, and Victorian governments are now providing the free flu vaccine to all people and promoting both vaccinations of Covid booster with the flu vaccine in order to give greater protection hoping to lower the pressure in our hospital system.
Yes, Omicron is mild and causes fewer deaths. But its high infection power has led to great causality. I believe that we should try our best not just to forget that Covid is still there and also give greater effort to help society to face the challenge in this coming winter.
Parents can also help to get their children vaccinated. At this moment only about 40% of 5-11 years old are double vaccinated. We all want to protect our loved kids and parents should be reminded that their kids will be in a better situation if they are double vaccinated.
Be prepared to face the Covid challenge this coming winter.
Raymond Chow
Publisher, BlessingCALD