Covid-19 and flu infections on the rise in Canberra

Just four days into winter and some Canberrans are already doing their bit to keep from getting sick. I'm just isolating and wearing a mask to try and keep safe. We're not so much doing the embracing and the kissing and the handshaking. I've noticed that I'm staying inside more during the winter. So you're not going out with more people, you know, with good reason. ACT Health data paints a worrying picture. The first week of April saw just 13 patients with COVID-19 in Canberra's hospitals. Last week, that number had increased fivefold. For the broader population, the spike has been even sharper, from 42 PCR confirmed cases to 242 in 10 weeks. The reality is, although the intense period of the pandemic is gone, COVID is here to stay. So instead of taking over, it's going to join in all the fun with the other winter viruses. Every year the latest strain is more infectious than previous strains, but not more severe. The rapid rise in cases prompted N Canberra Hospital to up its risk level from green to amber late last week. Today, TCH followed suit. That means masks are now mandatory, all unexpected admissions are PCR tested and visitor numbers have been reduced. We know what can happen if we don't take precautions, that systems can get overwhelmed, so we're getting in early. Doctor Kerry Aust says this year brought an early start to the cold and flu season. So we started seeing early cases of influenza, a lot of RSV and a surprising increase in atypical pneumonias like mycoplasma pneumoniae over the last month. Her advice to Canberrans will feel eerily familiar. Practice good hygiene, stay home if unwell, wear a mask in confined public spaces and keep vaccinations up to date. I think we. Approached with caution. So protect ourselves, protect the vulnerable people around us. Simple instructions Canberrans are well versed at following.