Mr Foley said the most recent modelling from the Burnet Institute and the Doherty Institute suggested it would be a few weeks before infections peaked by late January which would be a “really rugged period”.
“We are working on the basis that, fortunately, whilst Omnicom appears to be a less virulent strain, certainly is a less virulent strain of COVID-19, its sheer infectivity advantage will drive the total number of cases up and from that the likely increase in hospitalisations,” he said.
“We’re seeing today a substantial increase in people who have come forward to be hospitalised, but at the same time, a decrease in ventilating rates. So it’s how we pivot to now the hospital system having to cope in a hugely stressful time.”
NSW on Saturday recorded 45,098 new cases and nine deaths. There are now 1795 people in hospital with COVID-19 in NSW where tightened rules come into force on Saturday.
The addition of the rapid test results also produced a significant leap in active cases from 69,680 to 83,390. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 was steady at 644, as was the number in intensive care (106) and on ventilators (24).
Mr Foley on Saturday said the number of people hospitalised had risen overnight to 731 and the number in ICU was now 109. There were 20,776 vaccine doses administered at state sites on Friday.
He stressed that the large jump in cases due to the rapid test reporting system did not mean the daily case figure had doubled in 24 hours.
“What it means is it’s now given us a realistic picture of transmission in the community,” he said.
“What we now know is that the figure out for cases in the wider community is more accurate than we had previously, to just taking the PCR figure tests.
“Having this realistic figure allows us to put more people in contact with the support they need and get them through this challenging time.”
Mr Foley said it would take “a few days” for the new system to settle down.
“Without doubt, the increasing number of cases is providing significant challenges for our health care, primary care system or our hospital system,” he said.
Businesses and supply chains have felt the brunt of isolation requirements and sick staff unable to work. Supermarket giant Woolworths warned more than 20 per cent of staff at some facilities are missing work, as many thousands of coronavirus cases and close contacts throughout the supply chain cause shortages nationwide.
Mr Foley said consultation was underway between the federal and state governments and affected industries.
“My understanding is that, again to try to get some national and interstate consistency on these approaches, [governments] are considering those very issues over the course of the weekend,” he said.
“What we have to do is to take appropriate but safe steps to keep those critical distribution and supply and services functions going over the next few weeks until we get through this significant wave.”
Intensive care units across Victoria are also struggling to find staff to fill shifts as thousands of health workers from cleaners to specialist doctors are furloughed after being infected or exposed to COVID-19.
Coronavirus hospitalisations in Victoria have jumped more than 50 per cent in a week – equivalent to at least one large Melbourne hospital – with the vast majority arriving in congested emergency departments before going into general hospital wards. The number of COVID-19 patients in ICU has remained relatively steady compared to 97 a week ago.
Meanwhile The Age can reveal that, across Australia on Friday, more than 700 critical care staff were unavailable for work. The figures are likely to be a significant underestimate because some hospitals don’t report their staff absences to the national database.
Of these, more than 300 were Victorian doctors and nurses, according to the federal Critical Health Resource Information System, a database used to monitor ICU capacity nationally.
Some healthcare workers were struggling to access rapid antigen tests, while dozens of ward assistants, who help transfer critically ill patients who arrive in the emergency department, had been forced into quarantine after being exposed or infected with virus. Hospital cleaners, who are crucial to infection control, were also isolating in significant numbers.
Turnbull, Frydenberg test positive
Mr Turnbull alluded to the pressure on health workers as he revealed on social media that he had been diagnosed with coronavirus.
“Like hundreds of thousands of other Australians I have tested positive for covid. Symptoms moderate so far. Isolating as required. This pandemic and especially this latest wave has put our health professionals under enormous pressure – please be polite and considerate when dealing with the frontline health workers,” he said on Twitter on Saturday morning.
“Whatever failures there have been in planning and preparation are NOT their fault. They have had two years of relentless pressure and it’s now at its most intense. So give them the love and respect they deserve, please.”
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg tested positive for COVID-19 after developing symptoms of the virus on Thursday evening.
Mr Frydenberg, who had been staying at his holiday home in the Surf Coast during the festive season, shared the news in a social media post and said he was isolating with his family in their home in Melbourne.
“Like thousands of Australians, I tested positive today to COVID-19,” the post read. “I have the common symptoms and am isolating with my family. My thoughts are with all those who have COVID – this is a difficult time but we will get through this.”
Mr Frydenberg took a rapid antigen test on Friday and recorded the positive result online, in accordance with Victoria’s new testing rules.
With Melissa Cunningham, Aisha Dow, Nick Bonyhady, Henrietta Cook, Marta Pascual Juanola
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Victoria cases exceed ‘worst case’ limit one week after minister’s assurance
Source: Philippines Alive
