Australia has record COVID-19 deaths, hospitals under stress
Jan 18, 2022
Australia has reported a record high of COVID-19 deaths, and its second-largest state declared an emergency in hospitals to cope with surging patient admissions and a staffing shortage due to the coronavirus
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia reported a record high of COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, and its second-largest state declared an emergency in hospitals to cope with surging patient admissions and a staffing shortage due to the coronavirus.
The 74 deaths occurred in its three most populous states. New South Wales reported 36, Victoria reported 22 and Queensland 16. The previous daily record was 59 coronavirus-related deaths on Sept. 4, 2020.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there were signs that New South Wales’ infection rate was peaking and Victoria was near a plateau.
The New South Wales government has ruled out a return to lockdown to counter the highly contagious omicron variant. In October, Sydney ended a 108-day lockdown because the population of Australia’s most populous city was largely vaccinated.
Another lockdown would have “substantial consequences for men and women right across the state in terms of being able to provide food on the table for their family,” state Premier Domonic Perrottet told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Victoria declared an emergency for hospitals in its state capital, Melbourne, and several regional hospitals from midday Wednesday because of staff shortages and a surge in patient admissions. About 5,000 staff are absent because they are either infected or close contacts.
“We’ve reached a point in our healthcare system where it’s juggling extreme workforce shortages … alongside a vast number of patients with COVID-19 who require hospitalization, alongside that an extraordinary workforce that are absolutely exhausted,” Acting Health Minister James Merlino said.
A emergency declaration means additional capability and capacity need to be mobilized to receive an influx of patients. Some hospital staff may be recalled from leave and more services will be deferred. Physiotherapists and medical students will be asked to take on nursing duties.
It is the first time the emergency has been activated in multiple hospitals across the state.
More than 2,700 people have died with COVID-19 in Australia, which has a population of 26 million.
More News
‘I don’t care’: Inside Jensen Huang’s last hours as Nvidia CEO
At the end, Jensen Huang looked broken and shattered, his legendary energy depleted.
I worked part-time at David Jones. I know exactly why the business failed
Lift operators, bra fitters and lying sales assistants – I mourn you all.
How Elon Musk drove the Cybertruck and Tesla’s ambitions off a cliff
Elon Musk’s passion project crashed and burned. Its demise carries a lot of weight,
M.J. Bale axed its retail boss while she was on maternity leave. Now she’s fighting back
The Australian menswear retailer made its high-flying retail boss redundant days before her scheduled return from parental leave.
‘Either brave or mad’: A bastion of fine dining gets a sorely needed facelift
Rob and Tammy Charter had other ideas about how they wanted to spend post-work life. Like buying a heritage pub.
This Qantas jet was hit by lightning. It’s still grounded two weeks later
Pictures show the damage left by a lightning bolt, with charred areas of the skin and mesh exposed, on a plane that arrived in Melbourne from Los Angeles last month.
There has never been another scandal like this
Here’s a look at some of the most famous corporate scandals in history. Jensen Huang is really in a league of his own.
Hall of shame: Jensen Huang joins the list of CEOs brought down by affairs
The “close personal relationship” has been the downfall of a number of chief executives over the years.
Australian shares limp across the line to end week higher
The sharemarket has risen for six of the past seven weeks despite a weak finish in the final session.
Right Resources puts tungsten twist on historic NSW goldfields
Right Resources is chasing a gold and tungsten double in NSW’s historic Tumbarumba goldfields, armed with promising assays, early metallurgy and modern exploration.
The superchip genius or the big name wildcard? Eight contenders to replace Huang as Nvidia’s CEO
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang has resigned from the chipmaker he co-founded after reports of extramarital affairs made the spotlight.
Australian Gold and Copper lands NSW multi-metal bonanza
Australian Gold and Copper has struck rich polymetallic mineralisation at Evergreen in NSW, hitting 16m at 2.3g/t gold and 1.4% copper, including a 6.2% copper kicker.