'Concerning': COVID and flu cases rising, as NSW Health issues warning
"The upswing in COVID has come at the same time as influenza is on the rise," a NSW Health statement said.
COVID cases had increased since early May.
"Concerningly, the rate with the largest increase is in people aged 90 and over," the statement said.
The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report, released on Thursday, said "COVID and influenza vaccinations are especially important at this time for people who are at risk of severe disease".
The report showed weekly counts of unplanned emergency department presentations for COVID had spiked to about 400 statewide. Hospital admissions had risen to more than 100.
For influenza-like illness, these figures were about 500 and less than 100 respectively.
In NSW, 3475 people in NSW tested positive for COVID in the week ending June 14. This was a 10 per cent rise on the previous week.
"Most people with COVID do not test for the virus, so the latest figures represent a small proportion of all people who have the virus," the statement said.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty, of Health Protection NSW, said COVID was "circulating at moderate levels in the community and is likely to increase".
"While most people have already received their primary course of COVID vaccinations, we're urging people - especially those aged 65 and over - to get a booster to protect themselves," Dr McAnulty said.
"Boosters are recommended for people 75 and older every six months, and those 65 and older at least every 12 months.
"COVID is a serious illness and can cause hospitalisation and death, especially in people who are older, have other risk factors or are immunocompromised."
He said people with COVID aged 70 and older, or those with other risk factors, were "eligible for a course of antivirals, which can prevent serious illness" if taken early enough.
"These people should make a plan with their doctor about what to do if they do get sick, including what test to take, and how to access antivirals quickly."
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the Hunter's health network recorded 882 COVID deaths from 2019 to 2023.
The data, which included New England and Central Coast, was similar to flu and pneumonia (829) and liver disease (863).
Canadian research, published in Nature Communications this month, examined frequent COVID vaccination in vulnerable people.
The report said there had been concerns that repeated boosters may contribute to "T-cell exhaustion", which could "negatively affect the quality of immune protection".
T-cells help protect the body from infection.
The study found repeated COVID vaccination was "not associated with increased T-cell exhaustion in older frail adults, immunosuppressed individuals or healthy adults".
University of Melbourne research, released this week, said "catching common respiratory viruses raises your short-term risk of a heart attack or stroke".
"Common viruses, such as those that cause flu and COVID, can trigger them," the study said, adding that vaccination could help reduce this.
COVID cases have risen by 22 per cent and influenza cases by 32 per cent in a week in Hunter New England, health data shows.
"The upswing in COVID has come at the same time as influenza is on the rise," a NSW Health statement said.
COVID cases had increased since early May.
"Concerningly, the rate with the largest increase is in people aged 90 and over," the statement said.
The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report, released on Thursday, said "COVID and influenza vaccinations are especially important at this time for people who are at risk of severe disease".
The report showed weekly counts of unplanned emergency department presentations for COVID had spiked to about 400 statewide. Hospital admissions had risen to more than 100.
For influenza-like illness, these figures were about 500 and less than 100 respectively.
In NSW, 3475 people in NSW tested positive for COVID in the week ending June 14. This was a 10 per cent rise on the previous week.
"Most people with COVID do not test for the virus, so the latest figures represent a small proportion of all people who have the virus," the statement said.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty, of Health Protection NSW, said COVID was "circulating at moderate levels in the community and is likely to increase".
"While most people have already received their primary course of COVID vaccinations, we're urging people - especially those aged 65 and over - to get a booster to protect themselves," Dr McAnulty said.
"Boosters are recommended for people 75 and older every six months, and those 65 and older at least every 12 months.
"COVID is a serious illness and can cause hospitalisation and death, especially in people who are older, have other risk factors or are immunocompromised."
He said people with COVID aged 70 and older, or those with other risk factors, were "eligible for a course of antivirals, which can prevent serious illness" if taken early enough.
"These people should make a plan with their doctor about what to do if they do get sick, including what test to take, and how to access antivirals quickly."
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the Hunter's health network recorded 882 COVID deaths from 2019 to 2023.
The data, which included New England and Central Coast, was similar to flu and pneumonia (829) and liver disease (863).
Canadian research, published in Nature Communications this month, examined frequent COVID vaccination in vulnerable people.
The report said there had been concerns that repeated boosters may contribute to "T-cell exhaustion", which could "negatively affect the quality of immune protection".
T-cells help protect the body from infection.
The study found repeated COVID vaccination was "not associated with increased T-cell exhaustion in older frail adults, immunosuppressed individuals or healthy adults".
University of Melbourne research, released this week, said "catching common respiratory viruses raises your short-term risk of a heart attack or stroke".
"Common viruses, such as those that cause flu and COVID, can trigger them," the study said, adding that vaccination could help reduce this.
COVID cases have risen by 22 per cent and influenza cases by 32 per cent in a week in Hunter New England, health data shows.
"The upswing in COVID has come at the same time as influenza is on the rise," a NSW Health statement said.
COVID cases had increased since early May.
"Concerningly, the rate with the largest increase is in people aged 90 and over," the statement said.
The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report, released on Thursday, said "COVID and influenza vaccinations are especially important at this time for people who are at risk of severe disease".
The report showed weekly counts of unplanned emergency department presentations for COVID had spiked to about 400 statewide. Hospital admissions had risen to more than 100.
For influenza-like illness, these figures were about 500 and less than 100 respectively.
In NSW, 3475 people in NSW tested positive for COVID in the week ending June 14. This was a 10 per cent rise on the previous week.
"Most people with COVID do not test for the virus, so the latest figures represent a small proportion of all people who have the virus," the statement said.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty, of Health Protection NSW, said COVID was "circulating at moderate levels in the community and is likely to increase".
"While most people have already received their primary course of COVID vaccinations, we're urging people - especially those aged 65 and over - to get a booster to protect themselves," Dr McAnulty said.
"Boosters are recommended for people 75 and older every six months, and those 65 and older at least every 12 months.
"COVID is a serious illness and can cause hospitalisation and death, especially in people who are older, have other risk factors or are immunocompromised."
He said people with COVID aged 70 and older, or those with other risk factors, were "eligible for a course of antivirals, which can prevent serious illness" if taken early enough.
"These people should make a plan with their doctor about what to do if they do get sick, including what test to take, and how to access antivirals quickly."
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the Hunter's health network recorded 882 COVID deaths from 2019 to 2023.
The data, which included New England and Central Coast, was similar to flu and pneumonia (829) and liver disease (863).
Canadian research, published in Nature Communications this month, examined frequent COVID vaccination in vulnerable people.
The report said there had been concerns that repeated boosters may contribute to "T-cell exhaustion", which could "negatively affect the quality of immune protection".
T-cells help protect the body from infection.
The study found repeated COVID vaccination was "not associated with increased T-cell exhaustion in older frail adults, immunosuppressed individuals or healthy adults".
University of Melbourne research, released this week, said "catching common respiratory viruses raises your short-term risk of a heart attack or stroke".
"Common viruses, such as those that cause flu and COVID, can trigger them," the study said, adding that vaccination could help reduce this.
COVID cases have risen by 22 per cent and influenza cases by 32 per cent in a week in Hunter New England, health data shows.
"The upswing in COVID has come at the same time as influenza is on the rise," a NSW Health statement said.
COVID cases had increased since early May.
"Concerningly, the rate with the largest increase is in people aged 90 and over," the statement said.
The latest NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report, released on Thursday, said "COVID and influenza vaccinations are especially important at this time for people who are at risk of severe disease".
The report showed weekly counts of unplanned emergency department presentations for COVID had spiked to about 400 statewide. Hospital admissions had risen to more than 100.
For influenza-like illness, these figures were about 500 and less than 100 respectively.
In NSW, 3475 people in NSW tested positive for COVID in the week ending June 14. This was a 10 per cent rise on the previous week.
"Most people with COVID do not test for the virus, so the latest figures represent a small proportion of all people who have the virus," the statement said.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty, of Health Protection NSW, said COVID was "circulating at moderate levels in the community and is likely to increase".
"While most people have already received their primary course of COVID vaccinations, we're urging people - especially those aged 65 and over - to get a booster to protect themselves," Dr McAnulty said.
"Boosters are recommended for people 75 and older every six months, and those 65 and older at least every 12 months.
"COVID is a serious illness and can cause hospitalisation and death, especially in people who are older, have other risk factors or are immunocompromised."
He said people with COVID aged 70 and older, or those with other risk factors, were "eligible for a course of antivirals, which can prevent serious illness" if taken early enough.
"These people should make a plan with their doctor about what to do if they do get sick, including what test to take, and how to access antivirals quickly."
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the Hunter's health network recorded 882 COVID deaths from 2019 to 2023.
The data, which included New England and Central Coast, was similar to flu and pneumonia (829) and liver disease (863).
Canadian research, published in Nature Communications this month, examined frequent COVID vaccination in vulnerable people.
The report said there had been concerns that repeated boosters may contribute to "T-cell exhaustion", which could "negatively affect the quality of immune protection".
T-cells help protect the body from infection.
The study found repeated COVID vaccination was "not associated with increased T-cell exhaustion in older frail adults, immunosuppressed individuals or healthy adults".
University of Melbourne research, released this week, said "catching common respiratory viruses raises your short-term risk of a heart attack or stroke".
"Common viruses, such as those that cause flu and COVID, can trigger them," the study said, adding that vaccination could help reduce this.
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