Categories: Health

Australia reports its first death from Omicron Covid-19 variant

<p>
<strong>Australia has reported its first death from the Omicron variant of Covid-19 with a man in his 80s from the New South Wales (NSW) – the most populous state – of the country – dying at a local hospital.</strong></p>
<p>
The man was a resident of the Uniting Lilian Wells aged care facility in North Parramatta in western Sydney, where he acquired his infection, informed the NSW health authorities.</p>
<p>
"He had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions. This is the first known death in NSW linked to the Omicron variant of concern," tweeted NSW Health. </p>
<p>
<img alt="Omicron" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/nsw.webp" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" /></p>
<p>
The state has recorded 6,324 new cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours till 8 pm on Sunday.</p>
<p>
There are currently 520 Covid-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 55 people in intensive care, 17 of whom require ventilation.</p>
<p>
Australia saw long testing queues on Monday as authorities advised people to use rapid antigen test before going out for festivities. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
8th in line for family COVID test at 545am, before it opens at 8am. In Australia, this is what you have to do to cross some state borders. Entering the 3rd year of the pandemic & with a world leading vaccination rate of >90% of adults, this is ‘living with COVID’ Aussie style <a href="https://t.co/S9ZXwe6d4A">pic.twitter.com/S9ZXwe6d4A</a></p>
— John Kehoe (@Johnkehoe23) <a href="https://twitter.com/Johnkehoe23/status/1474815658583998469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>
"Around a quarter of people exposed to Covid-19 may still develop their infection after seven days. For the next seven days, close contacts should exercise caution and not enter a high-risk setting, should avoid large indoor gatherings, use a rapid antigen test if coming into contact with vulnerable people," advised the Australian health agencies.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/health-news/vaccination-of-to-year-old-kids-to-start-from-jan-health-frontline-workers-to-get-booster-shots-137800.html">Vaccination of 15 to 18-year-old kids to start from Jan 3, health & frontline workers to get booster shots</a></strong></p>
<p>
<strong><br />
</strong></p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

“India, Pakistan agree to cease military action on land, air and sea”: FS Vikram Misri

In a crucial step toward de-escalation, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Pakistan's Director General…

3 hours ago

Op Sindoor strikes kill Jaish Chief Masood Azhar’s brother-in-law, the man behind IC-814 hijacking

Indian Armed Forces launched a strike on May 7, targeting nine terror infrastructure sites in…

6 hours ago

PM Modi chairs high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, CDS and armed forces chiefs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security…

7 hours ago

Pakistan’s actions being seen as escalatory, provocative in nature, says Foreign Secretary Misri

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised that the actions being undertaken by Pakistan against India are…

7 hours ago

Fragments of projectile retrieved from Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer

As Pakistan continued its aggression targeting even civilian infrastructure, fragments of a projectile were retrieved…

7 hours ago

India exposes Pak propaganda war, debunks claims of damage to defence systems, air bases

India on Saturday categorically rejected Pakistan's malicious misinformation campaign, which falsely claimed the destruction of…

7 hours ago