Indeed, I thought it was one of the agenda items for the last National Cabinet meeting, though I don't recall hearing more on it, and the media can't help but continue and sensationalise the numbers more and more, each day. We need some good, calming reporting from the big outlets for a change.
There's just over 750,000 active cases across Australia, right now vs peak active cases in Sep 2021 of 30,420 - up 2,375%)
Cases Admitted to Hospital* are 4,153 vs. peak hospitalisation in Sep 2021 of 1,551 - up 168% (93% better off than Sep case rate equivalent)
Hospitalised and in ICU** is 350 vs. peak hospitalisation in Oct 2021 of 312 - up 12% (99% better off than Oct case rate equivalent)
Ventilated in ICU 107 vs. peak ventilated number in Oct 2021 of 184 - less than the previous peak by 42%!
* All admitted and who have COVID, regardless of the reason admitted (broken arm, dodgy prawns at xmas, etc.).
** All in ICU who have COVID, presumably regardless of the reason admitted, per above (car accidents, really dodgy prawns, etc.).
I expect that the majority who are on ventilators are so
due to COVID, and not just there
with COVID. Could one argue that until the right separation of the reason for hospitalisation and ICU can be stated, that ventilated cases, and ventilated as a % of total cases is a reasonable and relevant indicator as to how severe the COVID disease is, in this highly vaccinated nation?
Ventilated as a % of total active cases today is 0.014% (vs case fatality of 0.1% for confirmed influenza, in 2019), and here's that stat, over time, starting from the last day we had zero active cases on a ventilator, nation wide (4-Jul-2021). The more cases we may have out there, the better this would look:
View attachment 268902
Cheers,
Matt.