Australia is facing alarming numbers of the COVID-19.
Australia today recorded one of its highest daily death tolls, and hospitalizations are near record levels, as authorities battle the highly contagious Omicron strain.
Omicron BA.4/5 subvariants successfully evade protection from vaccines or previous infections and are the driver of the global increase in the number of infected persons.
Australia has recorded a record number of deaths in recent days.
89 deaths were recorded on Thursday and 90 on Wednesday.
More than 55,000 new cases were confirmed on Thursday, the highest number since May 18.
Premier Anthony Albanese said state leaders and federal health officials have not recommended mandatory masks indoors, despite calls from some doctors to do so.
“There is no point in imposing the obligation to wear masks if it is not going to be enforced,” Albanese told.
He also said health officials need to consider the impact of heavy restrictions on mental health.
The number of hospitalizations is close to the peak since January.
There are about 5350 patients with COVID-19 in Australian hospitals. Authorities called on companies to allow workers to work from home and recommended that residents take so-called booster doses.
About 71 percent of Australians received that dose and 95 percent of residents over the age of 16 received at least two doses of the vaccine.
