Aussie health officials say that the latest wave of COVID cases will likely peak next month, and millions will likely be infected in this half of the year. That’s because the new Omicron strains have measles-like infection rates, and that’s set to ramp up the pressure on hospitals and doctors over the next 2 months. PM Anthony Albanese brought forward today’s National Cabinet meeting to Saturday, and it was agreed that consistent messaging around wearing masks was important. The return of mask mandates isn’t on the horizon, but wearing them “indoors where appropriate” – aka where people are mixing and can’t socially distance – is “highly encouraged”. Albanese also announced the reinstatement of $750 pandemic leave payments for workers without access to sick leave. It will be available until the end of September at a cost of nearly $800 million to taxpayers.