Australia records its first omicron-linked death: an 80-year-old man with previous health problems

The authorities of Australia reported this Monday the first deceased linked to the infection of the omicron variant of coronavirus covid-19, while infections soar in the oceanic country.

The mortal victim is a man in his 80s with previous health problems and a resident of the state of New south Wales, where 6,324 new cases were announced this Monday.

According to those responsible for the regional health department, the deceased was infected in a center for the elderly where he was staying and had already received the full schedule of the vaccine against covid-19.

“This was the first known death in New South Wales related to the worrying omicron variant”, Regional epidemiologist Christine Selvey said in a video released by the government, where she also reported two other deaths.

Cases are on the rise in Australia, although it is due in part to the greater demand for tests to detect covid-19, whose negative result is required by the regional authorities of the different territories that make up the country to allow the entry of travelers from within the oceanic nation.

In the state of Victoria, almost 2,000 new cases were also reported today, while in Queensland there were 784 and on the island of Tasmania there were 35.

This outbreak of cases occurs while more than 90% of the target population has received the complete schedule of the vaccine, while in January the administration of booster doses is accelerated.

Despite the rising numbers, the central government has declared that it will not apply more isolation restrictions to the population, while some regional governments, such as New South Wales and Victoria, have taken some measures such as reimposing the mandatory use of the mask indoors.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the oceanic country has accumulated more than 291,000 confirmed infections, including more than 2,160 deaths, low figures compared to other countries of similar size.

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