/ 30 August 2021

COVID’s growing tally – and its toll

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COVID cases continue to climb in the ACTVictoria, and NSW (which set a new daily record of 1,218 local cases yesterday). One not so fun fact: on Friday, NSW’s tally of local cases since the start of the pandemic hit 22,157. That saw it pass Victoria’s tally of 21,772 confirmed local cases, the bulk of which were added during last year’s second wave. That means lockdowns continue, and yesterday NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian cited the mental health toll as a reason to ease restrictions as soon as possible. She says that emergency department visits for self-harm and suicidal ideation are up 31% for children and teenagers in the state compared with last year. National Cabinet reaffirmed on Friday that the key to opening up (sans Western Oz) is lifting vaccination rates, and the regulator has given the go-ahead to include children from 12yo and up in the rollout.

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Image source: AAP

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