Number proves Covid-19 still a threat

A mammoth three-quarters of Australia’s aged care Covid deaths have taken place in 2022, it has been revealed.

The terrifying state of the country’s virus reality was unearthed in analysis of federal health data showing more than 3000 people have died with Covid in facilities this year.

More than 10,000 Australians have died with the virus in 2022 including 1934 in July alone.

During 2020, seven per cent of virus cases in Australia and 75 per cent of all deaths were in people living in residential aged care.

However, the dire aged care Covid survival rate in 2020 of 66 per cent now sits at 96.5 per cent due to the widespread use of vaccines.

The aged care sector in NSW and Victoria were hit hard by outbreaks during the pandemic’s first two years and visitors were banned or heavily restricted in many facilities.

More than 495 aged care facilities were locked down across Australia over the most recent festive period, according to federal government data.

However, at the time Australia’s respond was mild compared to similar countries with Canada experiencing more than 17 times the number of deaths in aged care homes.

“At 7 January 2022, Canada had experienced 30,420 deaths. This includes 15,855 deaths at residential in care homes, or 52 per cent,” the Department of Health said at the time.

“Fifty per cent of all aged care homes in Canada have had reported cases of COVID-19 in residents or staff compared to 30 per cent in Australia.”

In total, 686 Australians died with Covid in 2020 and 231 succumb to the virus in 2021.

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells told the Sydney Morning Herald every Covid-19 death was a “tragedy”, but that the case fatality rate had decreased.

“We’ve left no stone unturned in managing the response to COVID-19 in aged care,” she said.

“We have extended the ADF’s role in aged care until the end of September and have a surge workforce that provided 1704 shifts last week.”