Qld scraps COVID-19 alert system amid flu outbreak
Queensland's traffic light advisory for COVID-19 will be scrapped as flu cases across the state continue to rise, the government has announced.
epidemic and plague
Millions to be spent on research into long COVID
The federal government will inject $50 million into long COVID research as a committee outlined plans for a national database of the virus.
Top doctor’s flu warning ahead of virus triple threat
The former face of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Dr Nick Coatsworth, is urging Australians not to make the same mistake he did about the flu vaccine.
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government health care
health
hospital and clinic
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More than 104,000 wait to see health specialist in Qld
Queensland hospitals are struggling to meet demand with more than 104,000 outpatients waiting longer than the clinically recommended time to see a specialist.
Regulator backs rapid tests as COVID-19 cases fall
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued a statement in defence of rapid antigen tests as COVID-19 caseloads continue to fall across the country.
Virus cases in post-Christmas decline
The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 went into steep decline in the weeks following Christmas after peaking just before the holiday break.
Chinese state media plays down COVID wave
China has rejected criticism of its COVID data and its state media has called other nation's new curbs on Chinese traveller's "discriminatory".
Virus cases dip in lead-up to Christmas
The latest peaks of COVID-19 cases are falling around the country, but one state is battling a surge in infections.
COVID case rise slows, peak on horizon
Weekly COVID-19 infections have risen six per cent in the past week as new data shows Australia experienced higher-than-average deaths from January to August.
Tas lifts COVID alert level as cases rise
Tasmania Health has raised the state's COVID-19 risk level to moderate after a 30 per cent lift in cases the past week and a spike in hospitalisations.
Cruise ship with virus outbreak docks
The Majestic Princess cruise ship has docked in Sydney with about 800 COVID-19 positive people aboard and will head to Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
Jab plea amid ‘rapid’ Qld virus increase
Queensland's COVID-19 wave could peak before Christmas as case numbers among aged care residents double in a week.
New COVID wave is coming, experts warn
A fresh wave of COVID-19 cases could hit Australia in coming weeks after health authorities detected vaccine-resistant variants.
Queensland scales back pandemic powers
Queensland has stripped pandemic powers from its chief health officer to shut the state's borders or mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for the general public.
Australian virus response ‘was over-reach’
Australia has been warned against the perils of over-reach when dealing with future health crises, following a critical review of the response to COVID-19.
Mandatory COVID isolation rules scrapped
National cabinet has agreed to end mandatory five-day isolation periods for people with COVID-19 - unless they work in hospitals or aged care.
Major step to booster for young children
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has provisionally approved the Pfizer booster for children aged five to 11, with a decision pending on its rollout.
Mask mandate call to curb COVID cases
A leading Australian health expert has called for a return of mask mandates, saying governments dropped the ball responding to the COVID Omicron variant.
COVID-19 nation’s third biggest killer
More people are thought to have died from COVID-19 this year than some of the country's largest killers, such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Queensland over peak of COVID-19 wave
Pressure on Queensland's health system is beginning to ease after the state passed a peak in COVID-19 hospitalisations much earlier than modelling predicted.
Too early to tell virus has peaked: Butler
Health Minister Mark Butler says the government is yet to confirm the peak of the current COVID-19 wave has been reached.
Kids’ noses better at fighting COVID-19
The lining of a child's nose may be better at staving off the coronavirus than that of an adult, according to Australian researchers.
Nearly 10,000 COVID-19 cases in aged care
There are nearly 10,000 active COVID-19 cases linked to aged care homes around the country and nearly 3400 older people have died since the pandemic began.
Air quality vital in taming COVID: expert
Improving indoor air quality will be key to long-term efforts against COVID-19 and a national approach is needed, a leading epidemiologist has told a committee.
Texts urge disabled to get virus booster
More than a million disability pensioners and their carers will be the focus of a text message campaign to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Vaccine patch combats COVID variants
Queensland researchers testing a needle-free vaccine patch have found it has better efficacy in neutralising COVID-19 than traditionally administered jabs.
Nurses raise concerns over COVID-19 wave
A nurses' union has called on the public to double down on limiting the spread of COVID-19 amid concerns for the wellbeing of healthcare workers.
Toddler dies with COVID as infections rise
A toddler has become one of more than 11,000 Australians to die with COVID-19, with the estimated number of adults infected tripling since February.
Queensland quarantine facility to close
Queensland's Wellcamp quarantine facility is to stop accepting guests, with the $200 million complex no longer required amid the changing COVID-19 response.
Novovax provisional approval for over 12s
Australian adolescents could soon have access to Nuvaxovid, after the COVID-19 vaccine gained provisional approval from the TGA.
Virus response disadvantages young Aussies
Young Australians have been disproportionately disadvantaged from the COVID-19 pandemic response, according to a report.