Health Minister Mark Butler has met with his state and territorial counterparts about the increasing number of COVID-19 cases as the government seeks to facilitate antiviral treatments for patients.
Butler met with ministers across the country in Canberra on Friday for the first time since the May federal election.
The group agreed to further promote the availability of antiviral treatments for COVID-19, as the number of winter cases increases.
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“The meeting heard the Commonwealth Deputy Medical Director, Dr Sonya Bennett, about the challenges currently being experienced over the winter of both rising flu and COVID rates and the BA wave.4 and 5 imminent, ”a reading of the meeting said.
“Minister Butler reported on the Commonwealth’s submission to (the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Board) to review the eligibility criteria for access to COVID-19 antiviral therapies.”
Health ministers also spoke of the increased demand for the public hospital system and pledged to meet every month for the rest of the year.
The increase in COVID-19 cases coincides with the end of pandemic sickness payments, with infected people still forced to isolate themselves at home.
Australia’s top union body has criticized the government’s decision to eliminate payment, arguing that it will force thousands to choose between obeying isolation rules or paying bills.
But Butler insisted the government did not have the financial capacity to continue funding emergency payments.
“We need to start moving towards more normal programs that support the Australian community and people have been warned about this for a long time,” he told ABC radio on Friday.
Australian Union Council President Michele O’Neil says the lack of government support will force people to work while they are sick, further spreading the virus.
The new government is ignoring the lessons learned at the beginning of the pandemic and should reverse its decision, he said.
“If we ask people to isolate themselves to keep the community safe, we need to ensure they receive support to do so,” he said Friday.
“No one should suffer such a large financial penalty for doing the right thing.”
While eliminating pandemic sickness payments, the health minister warned that a third wave of Omicron cases is expected, with reinfections likely due to a new variant.
Australians need to receive their reinforcement as soon as possible to protect themselves, he said.
There were 33 new deaths from the virus on Friday, bringing the total death toll in Australia since the pandemic began to 9930.
LATEST DATA OF COVID-19 THE 24 HOURS:
Victory: 8057 cases, 12 deaths, 472 in hospital and 23 in the ICU
NSW: 10,930 cases, nine dead, 1558 in hospital and 41 in ICU
Tasmania: 1303 cases, no deaths, 47 in hospital and four in the ICU
Queensland: 5,313 cases, six deaths, 587 in hospital and 14 in the ICU
NT: 302 cases, no deaths, 17 in hospital and two in ICU
WA: 5072 cases, two deaths, 217 in hospital and 10 in ICU
SA: 2781 cases, three dead, 227 in hospital and seven in the ICU
ACT: 1169 cases, one death, 138 in hospital and four in the ICU.