Covid no worry for Oz

Sydney – Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison batted away Covid worries three days ahead of federal elections, claiming many reported deaths are not caused by the virus and vowing not to interfere in people’s lives.

Australia detected 66 Covid-related deaths and more than 53 000 infections in the previous 24 hours – far more than six months ago when daily numbers generally showed fewer than 20 deaths and 2 000 infections.

Infection numbers have surged since the arrival of omicron and the relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions. Very few Australians still wear a mask or maintain a social distance.

“What you see when you have case numbers at that level is that people, when they die for many other causes, that they will die with Covid,” Morrison said.

“And the deaths are recorded as Covid deaths. But that does not necessarily mean... that they died because of Covid. That’s a very different proposition.”

Australia reports a Covid death for anyone who has a confirmed or probable infection with the virus when they die, unless there is a “clear alternative” cause.

“We’re living with Covid,” Morrison said. “We’re not going back to those daily press conferences of people talking about Covid every day.” –