Australia reported a record 47,816 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday as the highly infectious omicron variant continued to spread rapidly, putting a massive strain on the country's testing regime and raising questions about the nation's ambitious reopening plan which involves learning to live with the virus.
Health workers conduct COVID-19 tests at a testing clinic.
The images are from the same company.
Australia reported its highest number of new Covid-19 cases and total hospitalizations since the start of the Pandemic.
The country's testing regime has been strained by the huge surge in new cases.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not want the government to "undercut" the pharmacy industry and refused to make rapid antigen tests freely available to all Australians.
Morrison told 7News that the country has to live with the virus and the rapid test isn't a medicine.
The deputy chief medical officer of Australia said that early evidence suggests that a majority of the patients were exposed to the delta variant and that omicron is a less severe virus.
Bennett expects the surge to stop next month.
Morrison and his government were blamed for the largest public policy failure in Australian political history. The Prime Minister needs to take responsibility for something himself, according to Albanese.
90.41%. The total percentage of eligible Australians who have been fully vaccined against Covid-19 is according to a tracker run by the Sydney Morning Herald. Australia began to remove most of its measures after the national vaccine rate reached 80%.
The key background.
After relying on some of the world's most stringent pandemic control measures, the Australian government decided to pivot away from a Covid elimination strategy. Morrison indicated that Australia will live with the virus once a large proportion of its population is fully vaccineed. Over the past few months, the country has relaxed nearly all Covid restrictions. The number of new cases across the country has increased due to the rolling back of restrictions.
Australia COVID-19 cases surge.
Australians furious as rapid tests run out, stalling work and family plans.
Australia has a no lockdown strategy as new covid-19 cases hit record highs.
Coverage and live updates on the coronaviruses.
