Queensland today has more than 1,000 deaths from COVID-19, with the pandemic virus underway to be among the state’s top reasons for the lives lost this year.
Lea King’s beloved husband, Colin, was one of them.
The father of four and the grandfather of 10 died in February, just before celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
The 74-year-old crossword lover, who lived in Logan, South Brisbane, was being treated for lung cancer when he contracted SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
But Ms King said that “it was COVID that caught her and that the death certificate states that COVID pneumonia is the cause of death.”
Colin King died at the hospital in February eight weeks after testing positive for COVID-19. (Provided by: Lia King)
The couple had enjoyed “15 good years” of retirement traveling together in Australia and abroad and had “a lot to live on” when COVID-19 took her life.
King also volunteered at a local community center in Logan, where he mentored a life skills program that helps people in need.
His widow urged others to “take precautions” amid the “frightening” number of cases in the community and said there needed to be more public reminders about the virus.
“They’ve loosened up this year and there are still and I think people forget that they have to be careful and wear masks, even though it’s not mandatory,” Ms. King said.
Lea and Colin King were married for nearly 50 years and had four children and 10 grandchildren. (ABC News: Emma Pollard)
“We’re waiting for the numbers to go down”
Ms. King’s petitions are echoed by experts pushing for more community education on the need for booster vaccines and the benefits of COVID testing and the use of antiviral drugs for those at risk of progressing to a serious illness.
The latest data from Queensland Health shows 1,008 deaths from COVID-19 so far, including at least 500 elderly care residents, most of which occurred during this year’s Omicron waves.
This is far superior to last year’s model which suggests that 200 Queensland residents could die in the first three months after the reopening of interstate borders, according to the less transmissible Delta variant.
If the current rate does not slow down, COVID would sit behind heart disease as the leading cause of death in the state, according to 2014-2018 figures reported in The Health of Queenslanders 2020 report.
Although low by international standards, if the death rate from COVID-19 continued at the same rate for the rest of the year, Deakin University Professor of Epidemiology Catherine Bennett said that SARS-CoV- 2 “remained one of our leading causes of death” for 2022.
“As winter approaches, if we don’t see any new variants … we expect the numbers to go down,” said Professor Bennett.
Professor Catherine Bennett says SARS-CoV-2 remains one of Australia’s leading causes of death by 2022. (ABC News: Peter Drought)
“This is what we need to focus on now: how we can reduce mortality rates in the face of this continuing infection in the community.
“One message doesn’t fit everyone. It’s working with community leaders, it’s identifying where our highest rates are and focusing on those communities. In particular, looking at where we’re seeing more fatalities.
“Are infection rates higher, or do we have higher case mortality rates in certain areas because we don’t have people receiving second boosts or antivirals well in advance?”
More than 300 of the deaths from COVID-19 in Queensland, nearly a third, have occurred in and around the Brisbane Metro South region, as far as Logan, where Mr. King lived.
This is almost double the number of deaths by COVID in Metro North (165) and Gold Coast (167).
“Important” reinforcement features
In a Tai Chi class in Logan, seniors say that vaccinations against VOCID have given them confidence to do group activities again. (ABC News: Alice Pavlovic)
Queensland has the lowest rates of people in any Australian state or territory who have received three or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with only 62.9 per cent of those eligible for a booster vaccine. .
The next worst states are NSW with 67.1 percent, Victoria with 72 percent and Tasmania with 72.3 percent.
Western Australia has the best rates at 83.2 per cent.
Despite high levels of COVID complacency among large sections of the population, the director of infectious diseases at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Geoffrey Playford, said the booster injections were “critically important”.
Geoffrey Playford is the director of infectious diseases at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. (ABC News: Emma Pollard)
“Everyone was very anxious to get their first and second doses, and that’s how it was, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that long-term protection really depends on booster doses,” Dr. Playford said.
“It is very important to receive this third dose, even if you have had COVID before, and certainly everyone who is eligible, due to the underlying health conditions, to get their fourth dose. I would also add the flu to all this. “.
Wider access to the fourth COVID dam is needed
His call comes amid a push for wider access to the fourth coups of COVID-19, which are currently only approved for people 65 and older, First Nations people 50 and older, and those who are severely immunocompromised but have to wait four months. after receiving the third dose.
Recently, the United States made the fourth dose available to anyone 50 years of age or older.
Dr. Playford joined Professor Bennett in urging Queenslanders to be aware of their eligibility for antiviral drugs if they developed COVID and the need to access the drugs within five days of the onset of symptoms.
“It’s very important to get tested early when you have symptoms, and then letting your doctor know you’re positive on the rapid antigen test is important to be able to access these antivirals,” Dr. Playford said.
Australians most at risk of developing severe COVID (people with underlying medical conditions and the elderly) are eligible for medicines.
“Certainly people who have a compromised immune system and are under the care of a transplant doctor or oncologist usually know this, but for other people who may not have regular contact with their healthcare providers. health, especially those who are older, may not know it, “said Dr. Playford.
‘It’s a little loose’
In a South Brisbane bingo hall, Paul Schenk, 71, who has had four doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and his flu shot, talks about the need for more public discussion about the risks pandemic events.
Paul Schenk, 71, is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (ABC News: Marton Dobras)
“At first there was an information overload and now there is almost none,” Schenk said.
When asked if he knew when and how to receive antiviral treatment if he contracted COVID, Mr Schenk said he had “not heard much about it”.
Inside the same bingo hall, Lyn Jones listened intently to the call of the numbers as she received oxygen to help her breathe.
He has end-stage lung disease, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, and his specialist told him he would have “about 15 minutes to live” if he had COVID-19.
Bingo player Lyn Jones has end-stage lung disease and wants more people to wear face masks in crowded places. (ABC News: Marton Dobras)
The 56-year-old has received three doses of a vaccine against COVID-19 and believes there should be public health regulations to reduce the spread of the virus.
“I think she’s a little lax,” Mrs. Jones said.
“Yeah Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like BT aint for me either.
“Deaths Don’t Fall”
University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay warned that the pandemic was not over and called on authorities to take indoor air quality as seriously as food security and to continue public education campaigns. on how people might reduce their risk of COVID-19.
Dr. Mackay said people should work from home whenever possible.
“We also need to look for ways for people to move around cities, urbanized areas, safely,” he said.
“We need public transport to get on board and do something to make sure the air in the buses and trains is as clean as possible.
“We just have to think of air as one of the essential elements of health and safety that we use every day, but we have to hope that it is clean and safe.”
When it comes to 1,000 deaths, Dr. Mackay borrowed a quote that others had used: “We’re dying of COVID, not living with it.”
“Deaths are not declining and they haven’t been for months; they seem to be steadily rising,” said Professor Mackay.
“We are tacitly approving a new level of hospitalization, which involves a lot of costs, a lot of stress for our healthcare workers and also new levels of death that are constant.
“We are not talking about that and that is not right.
“I just think we should have proper conversations and do educational campaigns on how we can prevent infection.”
Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 11:30 PM, updated 53 minutes ago, 53 minutes ago, Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 1:23 AM