CANBERRA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Nick Coatsworth, welcomed the decline in COVID-19 cases, but warned against complacency.
He said, he was concerned that testing rates would decline as the second wave of COVID-19 infections subsides in Victoria, the hardest-hit state by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
“We need to keep in mind that there’s still a way to go. When Victorians come out of restrictions, particularly in Melbourne, the complacency has to be avoided,” he said.
“We know how to stop this virus, if we limit household gatherings, wash hands frequently and have the COVIDSafe app downloaded, and maintain physical distance and of course mask-wearing being mandatory, these things will allow us to lift restrictions safely.”
As of yesterday afternoon, there were 26,912 confirmed cases in Australia, and the number of new cases in the last 24 hours is 16.
The death toll increased to 851, after two new deaths were reported in Victoria yesterday.
Of the new cases, Victoria reported 11, which is the lowest number of new cases since June 16, when nine cases were reported.
“Within Victoria, five of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and six are under investigation,” said a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services in Victoria yesterday.
“One of today’s (yesterday’s) two deaths is linked to a known outbreak in an aged care facility. To date, 763 people have died from the virus in Victoria,” it added.– NNN-AGENCIES
