Scientists have produced evidence that the pandemic virus is 'uniquely adapted to infect humans', raising fresh questions over whether its origins were natural or could have occurred in a laboratory.
Where did the Coronavirus 19 Originate from? and anything relative to the virus.
Where did the Coronavirus 19 originate from? and anything relative to the virus.
Coronavirus is 'uniquely adapted to infect humans': Top vaccine scientist says it could only have come from an animal through a 'freak of nature' - and the possibility it leaked from Wuhan lab MUST be investigated
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North Korea is being put into a national lockdown, with state media saying the country is facing its "biggest emergency incident" after officially confirming its first COVID-19 outbreak. North Korea previously claimed a perfect record in keeping out COVID-19.
Leader Kim Jong Un ordered all cities and counties to "strictly lock down" after the BA.2 Omicron variant was detected in Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
South Australia's health system will expand its capacity to tackle a growing number of long COVID cases, with dedicated clinics established to treat what is now being described by some as a "pandemic" in its own right
Four clinics for people with long-term effects of the virus have opened across metropolitan Adelaide, at the Royal Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth and Women's and Children's hospitals, and Flinders Medical Centre.
The clinics are designed to help people who are still experiencing significant symptoms three months after infection, such as fatigue, body aches, shortness of breath and brain fog.
Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) infectious diseases expert Renjy Nelson — who helped to develop the state's long COVID plan — said the condition was defined as having "symptoms at least 12 weeks after the acute infection, lasting for at least two months without an alternative explanation".
"Long COVID is certainly an entity we need to be aware of — it's in fact actually now even being addressed as the 'long COVID pandemic' because of the sheer number," Dr Nelson said.
"We know there's over 2 to 3 million people around the world who are suffering from long COVID.
"We commonly see people with breathlessness — people who are high achievers who were very fit prior to this now finding themselves not able to climb a flight of stairs."
Dr Nelson said the new clinics included neurologists, neuropsychologists, cardiologists, respiratory physicians, rheumatologists and immunologists.
"We started putting together a group of clinicians when we first started seeing patients from the Ruby Princess who, even six months after their infection, continued to remain unwell," he said.
On Tuesday, SA Health reported 3,683 new infections and the deaths of three women aged from their 70s to their 90s.
There were 222 people in hospital, six of whom were in intensive care and one on a ventilator.
Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Emily Kirkpatrick said the growing prevalence of long COVID should act as a strong incentive for eligible South Australians to get their third vaccine dose.
"We already know from the early data that having three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will reduce your risk of developing long COVID," she said.
Of the 419 local government areas across the country that record COVID vaccination figures, Queensland regions make up more than half of the bottom 5 per cent. Larger centres, including the state's largest regional hubs – the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast – are among the bottom of the list, coming in at number 376 and 394, with one-in-five receiving two jabs.
She has been in isolation since last Sunday, when her partner Clarke Gayford tested positive. Ms Ardern also said on Saturday that her daughter Neve had tested positive on Wednesday.
Australia led the world in per-capita COVID infections according to global databases. On Friday 54,591 cases were reported across Australia, on the back two consecutive days of about 58,000 cases, with Western Australia bracing for new infection records. Hospitalisations and deaths are also tracking upwards, with the average number of COVID-related daily deaths hitting 40, doubling since March.
According to University of Melbourne epidemiologist Nancy Baxter, the numbers may get worse. "We're at a point where COVID is now one of the major killers of Australians, and probably by the end of the year is going to be one of the top three. And with increasing case numbers, new sub-variants will be coming in. This may drive it even further, which would have a bigger impact." she told the ABC.
Just had the news today that our 5 year old grandson has gone down with Covid-19 funny thing is his mother tested negative! His temperature went up to 40 and was taken to hospital.