Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth says it’s reassuring there’s been a decrease in the number of Australians in vulnerable groups being infected with COVID.
With the number of total virus cases set to reach 10 million by the end of the month, Dr Coatsworth said the risk caused by COVID to the public was getting smaller.
“The number of vulnerable people in Australia (with COVID) is decreasing because of the powerful effect of vaccinations, particularly four doses for those over 65, and the milder variants that we’re seeing emerging,” he told Sky News.
“Whilst the number of deaths, it’s certainly sad … the actual risk to individuals is getting smaller.”
The current death toll from COVID in Australia stands at 12,959, including 73 fatalities announced on Tuesday.
Dr Coatsworth said there needed to be a further examination of data to determine the number of deaths from COVID, rather than have it also include people who died from a different cause but had COVID at the time.
“We need to actually have that research conducted. We have the data there and it should be analysed instead of this, sort of, to and fro of academic anecdotes that goes around at the moment,” he said.
“People are still dying from COVID-19, that is from COVID lung disease.
“The people who are doing so unfortunately are at the extreme end of their lives, or that they have very severe immune suppression.”
As of Tuesday, the total number of infections from COVID in Australia stands at 9.82 million, including the 19,646 recorded in the previous 24-hour period.
