How to keep your family safe from COVID this Christmas
COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in Australia and health experts say now is the time for people to get vaccinated if they want to protect themselves in time for Christmas and holiday travel.
The latest COVID-19 wave shows no sign of ending, with figures from last week showing a rise in cases in each state. In NSW and Victoria, case numbers jumped 20 per cent compared with figures from the previous week.
While cases are still expected to peak before Christmas, experts say Australians who need to get vaccinated should do it now as it takes one to two weeks for the jab to take effect.
There were 27,790 COVID-19 cases reported in Victoria this week, an increase of 3.4 per cent on the previous week. The average daily number of new cases this week was 3,970, up from 3,853 last week.
The seven-day rolling average of patients with COVID in Victorian hospitals is 682, a 24 per cent increase compared to last week. There are currently 713 COVID patients in Victorian hospitals, with 34 COVID patients in intensive care including 5 cleared cases. There are 6 COVID patients on a ventilator. The seven-day rolling average of patients in intensive care in Victorian hospitals is 28.
In the past three months, 4,071 COVID patients were hospitalised in Victoria. 41.2 per cent of those patients had not received their third vaccine dose. 1,229 (30.2 per cent) were unvaccinated, 31 had received one dose, 419 had two doses, 896 had received three doses and 1,496 had received four doses.
Of Victorians aged 50 to 64 years, 79.9 per cent have had their third dose and 30.9 per cent have had their recommended fourth dose. Of those aged over 65, 90.8 per cent have had their third dose and 67.7 per cent have had their fourth dose. 70.4 per cent of people aged 16 and over in Victoria have had three doses of the COVID vaccine.
Who should get vaccinated?
All Australians aged over 16 years old are being advised to get a third vaccine dose.
A fourth dose is recommended for those aged over 50. Those between 30 and 49 years old can get the fourth dose if they want to.
Those who are immunocompromised can get the fifth dose.
Steps to protect yourself and others
Protecting yourself is the best way to protect yourself and the community. If you don’t get COVID, you can’t spread COVID.
These six steps can help you stay ahead of COVID this summer:
Wear a mask: a high-quality and well-fitted mask can protect you from the virus
Get your booster dose: new bivalent vaccines targeting Omicron variants are available at your GP or local pharmacy
Let fresh air in: open windows and doors when you can, it reduces the spread of the virus
Get tested: if you have symptoms, take a rapid antigen test
Stay at home: if you have COVID, you should stay at home for at least 5 days until you have no symptoms
Talk to your doctor: if you are at risk of falling very sick, you may be eligible for COVID medicines.
