Australia should brace for more Covid-19 deaths amid Omicron wave, say authorities
Categories: FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Australia should brace for more COVID-19 deaths for the next few weeks, authorities said on Wednesday, as record infections fuelled by the Omicron outbreak overwhelmed health systems forcing Victoria to raise its emergency status for hospitals. "We have seen and we will continue to see deaths, mostly in older people, mostly in people with other chronic diseases," Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly told broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday, a day after Australia suffered its deadliest day with 77 deaths from the virus. Amid record infections, Victorian state hospitals from midday Wednesday will move to a `code brown` status, usually reserved for natural disasters or mass casualty events, while reports said nurses had demanded the government to get the help of the army. Nurses in neighbouring New South Wales (NSW) state on Wednesday staged a rally in one of Sydney`s biggest hospitals protesting against staff shortages. Amid record infections, Victorian state hospitals from midday Wednesday will move to a `code brown` status, usually reserved for natural disasters or mass casualty events, while reports said nurses had demanded the government to get the help of the army. "Nurses and midwives are tired, angry and frustrated and feel that the NSW government isn`t supporting them at all," nurses union`s Shaye Candish said.Although Kelly admitted "challenges with nursing staff" levels, he said the country`s hospital capacity was coping with rising admissions.