Victoria has recorded extra circumstances of the flu up to now this 12 months than the entire of 2020 and 2021 mixed, with consultants calling for the voluntary carrying of masks in settings the place there’s a excessive probability of spreading influenza and Covid.
At a time Covid-19 infections stay stubbornly excessive, the newest information from the Victorian well being division exhibits there have been 5,023 reported circumstances of the flu within the state because the begin of 2022. That is in comparison with 110 in 2021 and 4,792 in 2020, when worldwide borders have been closed and Covid restrictions have been in place.
Flu circumstances, nevertheless, stay decrease than they have been in the beginning of the extreme 2019 flu season.
The president of the Victorian department of the Australian Medical Affiliation, Dr Roderick McRae, stated the state’s coming flu season would in all probability be worse than the earlier two years, given restrictions had eased and there had been a scarcity of publicity to the virus.
“It’s in all places and it’s being unfold by going to birthday events, by going to the footy, by going to a present, and we’re being inspired to do precisely that,” he stated.
Covid-19 infections additionally stay regular, with new every day circumstances in Victoria rising above 10,000 for eight consecutive days. On Tuesday, the state recorded 13,654 new infections and 20 deaths, whereas there are greater than 500 individuals in hospital with the virus.
McRae stated an additional surge in Covid circumstances, mixed with a foul flu season, might put unbelievable stress on the state’s hospitals, that are already struggling with overcrowding and ambulance ramping at emergency departments.
“The general public hospital system is in disaster proper now,” he stated.
“Employees don’t prefer it, they’re placing in unpaid extra time, they’re sad they usually’re unhappy that they will’t do the job to the perfect of their means. But we persevering with so as to add extra stress to the entrance finish of the system by extra individuals contracting Covid-19 or influenza.”
The AMA in Victoria is recommending a return to masks use in settings the place there’s a excessive danger of transmission, akin to giant sporting occasions, film theatres, live performance halls, eating places and public transport.
“It’s nearly being wise,” McRae stated. “AMA Victoria will not be calling for a mandate, that’s the federal government’s name, however all the group must be fascinated by whether or not it needs to utterly block the general public hospital system and its means to assist everyone.”
In Victoria, masks are at the moment required on public transport, in taxis and rideshares, at airports and in well being, aged care and justice setttings. The federal government strongly recommends individuals put on them when in locations the place they can not bodily distance, are involved with susceptible individuals or if they’ve Covid-19 signs.
Prof Adrian Esterman, an epidemiologist and biostatistician on the College of South Australia, welcomed AMA Victoria’s intervention, having been a critic of the choice to take away masks mandates in mid-April.
“[Covid-19] remains to be circulating in large numbers and it’s making individuals sick – some with long-term well being circumstances – and it’s killing individuals,” Esterman stated.
“What the federal government is saying is the variety of deaths and variety of individuals with lengthy Covid-19 doesn’t actually matter, as a result of we’ve bought to study to stay with it. You inform that to the bereaved households. You inform that to the individuals who now need to lose their job as a result of they will’t work any extra.”
Esterman stated masks have been one of many few public well being interventions that would cut back Covid-19 transmission with out affecting the financial system.
On Tuesday the premier, Daniel Andrews, stated the well being minister had no recommendation to alter the state’s restrictions.
He urged Victorians to get vaccinated towards each Covid-19 and the flu.
“Let’s attempt to take among the stress off our nurses by having much less of these Covid and flu circumstances,” Andrews stated.
In the meantime, college students in Victorian colleges will not need to do twice-weekly fast antigen exams from Monday 23 Might.
Colleges started notifying dad and mom of the change this week, with solely college students who’re family contacts of optimistic circumstances and those that have signs required to proceed testing.
Free fast antigen exams will proceed to be obtainable at colleges.
