Has COVID changed in five years? What to know as winter looms
While deaths are lower than previous years, 289 people died from COVID-related respiratory infections in the first two months of 2025. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett Five years ago, COVID was all we could think about. Today, we'd rather forget about lockdowns, testing queues and social distancing. But the virus that sparked the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, is still circulating. Most people who get COVID today will experience only a mild illness. But some people are still at risk of severe illness and are more likely to be hospitalised with COVID. This includes older people, those who are immunocompromised by conditions such as cancer, and people with other health conditions such as diabetes. Outcomes also tend to be more severe in those who experience social inequities such as homelessness. In the United Kingdom, people living in the 20 per cent most deprived areas have double chance of being hospitalised from infectious diseases than those in the least deprived areas.
In Australia, 58,000 COVID cases have been reported so far in 2025. However, testing rates have declined and not all positive cases are reported to the government, so case numbers in the community are likely much higher. Latest data from FluCan, a network of 14 hospitals, found 781 people were hospitalised for COVID complications in the first three months of the year. This 'sentinel surveillance' data gives a snapshot from a handful of hospitals, so the actual number of hospitalisations across Australia is expected to be much higher. While deaths are lower than previous years, 289 people died from COVID-related respiratory infections in the first two months of the year.
We often see an increase in respiratory infections in winter. However, COVID peaks aren't just necessarily seasonal. Over the past few years, peaks have tended to appear around every six months.
Typical early symptoms of COVID included fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and shortness of breath. These have remained the most common COVID symptoms across the multiple variant waves. Early in the pandemic, we realised COVID caused a unique symptom called anosmia — the changed sense of taste or smell. Anosmia lasts about a week and in some cases can last longer. Anosmia was more frequently reported from infections due to the ancestral, Gamma, and Delta variants but not for the Omicron variant, which emerged in 2021.
However, loss of smell still seems to be associated with some newer variants. A recent French study found anosmia was more frequently reported in people with JN.1. But the researchers didn't find any differences for other COVID symptoms between older and newer variants.
Yes. Testing is particularly important if you experience COVID-like symptoms or were recently exposed to someone with COVID and are at high-risk of severe COVID. You might require timely treatment. If you are at risk of severe COVID, you can see a doctor or visit a clinic with point-of-care testing services to access confirmatory PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing. Rapid antigen tests (RATs) approved by Australia's regulator are also still available for personal use. But a negative RAT doesn't mean that you don't have COVID — especially if you are symptomatic.
If you do test positive, while you don't have to isolate, it's best to stay at home. If you do leave the house while experiencing COVID symptoms, minimise the spread to others by wearing a well-fitted mask, avoiding public places such as hospitals and avoiding contact with those at higher risk of severe COVID.
In most people with mild to moderate COVID, it can last 7–10 days. Symptomatic people can spread the infection to others from about 48 hours before you develop symptoms to about ten days after developing symptoms. Few people are infectious beyond that. But symptoms can persist in more severe cases for longer. A UK study which tracked the persistence of symptoms in 5,000 health-care workers found symptoms were less likely to last for more than 12 weeks in subsequent infections.
General fatigue, for example, was reported in 17.3 per cent of people after the first infection compared with 12.8 per cent after the second infection and 10.8 per cent following the third infection. Unvaccinated people also had more persistent symptoms. Vaccinated people who catch COVID tend to present with milder disease and recover faster. This may be because vaccination prevents over-activation of the innate immune response.
Vaccination against COVID continues to be one of the most effective ways to prevent COVID and protect against it. Data from Europe's most recent winter, which is yet to be peer reviewed, reports COVID vaccines were 66% effective at preventing symptomatic, confirmed COVID cases. Most people in Australia have had at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. But if you haven't, people over 18 years of age are recommended to have a COVID vaccine. Boosters are available for adults over 18 years of age. If you don't have any underlying immune issues, you're eligible to receive a funded dose every 12 months.
Boosters are recommended for adults 65–74 years every 12 months and for those over 75 years every six months. Adults over 18 years who are at higher risk because of weaker immune systems are recommended to get a COVID vaccine every 12 months and are eligible every six months. A new review of more than 4,300 studies found full vaccination before a SARS-CoV-2 infection could reduce the risk of long COVID by 27 per cent relative to no vaccination for the general adult population. With ongoing circulation of COVID, hybrid immunity from natural infection supplemented with booster vaccination can help prevent large-scale COVID waves. Meru Sheel is an associate professor and epidemiologist at Infectious Diseases, Immunisation and Emergencies (IDIE) Group, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney. Sheel receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She serves on WHO's Immunization and Vaccines Related Implementation Research Advisory Committee (IVIR-AC).
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ABC News
34 minutes ago
- ABC News
Monash IVF bungles spark transparency, regulation questions in growing industry
When *Sarah and her partner needed fertility testing, it was Monash IVF that the pair turned to. "Having a quick browse online, Monash IVF was one of the most prominent ones that came up on Google search and after contacting them for initial quotes, they seemed to be priced pretty reasonably," she told the ABC. But Sarah, who wanted to protect her privacy in this story, and her partner's basic fertility testing soon turned stressful, with the former patient saying she experienced a string of small errors from the company. "One of the first tests I had done was a blood test. When I went on the day I noticed the nurse had to make some amendments on the form," she explained. Sarah realised her blood testing form had been filled out incorrectly, with a test that was required missing. "Given I was just getting a fertility test, I expected this to be pretty standard procedure," Sarah said. Later, she found out the rebate amount Monash IVF told her she would get for a pelvic ultrasound was incorrect, and that scan would be much more expensive than she'd been told. She complained to Monash IVF, which did respond after six weeks — but the experience left her worried about the standard of care Monash IVF was providing to its patients. "They come across as a very trusting, leading brand in terms of IVF treatments," Sarah said. "Throughout those treatments and experiences with Monash IVF I lost a lot of trust." Monash IVF did not respond to the ABC's specific questions about this patient, but pointed to its previous public statement made in the wake of a second embryo transfer mix-up coming to light. It offered an apology to the couple affected by the bungle and announced an internal investigation into the issue. Sarah's not the only one with concerns about the sector. If you work in the IVF industry, or want to share your story as a patient, ABC News wants to hear from you. You can email elisekinsella@ or complete this form to send a story tip Lucy Lines is a former embryologist who now works advocating for IVF patients. She put a call out on her social media accounts asking for IVF patients and former patients to tell her about their experiences with the industry. She was flooded with responses from women reporting issues like being given the wrong medication or dosage, with patients being given other people's paperwork and one woman who reported a doctor getting both her name and age wrong. The scientist said Australia has always had a well-regulated IVF system, but she was worried the rapid growth in the industry, and for-profit business model, could be putting staff and resources under strain. In labs, she said, it is common for scientists to work long hours. "There's so much pressure put on them in the lab and they are flat-out busy, can't keep up and they're working 12-13 hours days, six days a week," she said. In Australia IVF services grew between 2017 and 2022, with more than 100,000 treatment cycles overseen each year now. Ms Lines said she would like to see mandated staffing ratios in IVF labs and for embryologists to have a national accreditation program. In Australia IVF services are regulated by state governments and by a national industry aligned accreditation body called the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC). Former IVF nurse and researcher Karin Hammarberg said, compared to other countries, Australia has traditionally had a strong regulatory system for IVF services. But she wanted to see more transparency. The researcher said the public simply don't know if there have been other embryo mix-ups or serious mistakes in IVF clinics in Australia before these two Monash IVF mistakes, because clinics are obliged to report to the regulator, which isn't obliged to reveal that information. "Every serious adverse event has to be reported to the accreditation committee, they record that, but it's not publicly available information," she said. The committee confirmed this to the ABC. In a statement it said: "Consistent with other non-government accreditation bodies, [the RTAC] doesn't publicly identify any clinic's audit details". This issue has caught the attention of the country's political leaders. On Friday state and federal health ministers met in Melbourne, with IVF regulation on the agenda. At the meeting, Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas pushed for the immediate creation of a national, independent accreditation body. "I think it is concerning that there may well be more errors that we don't know about and that is because the body that currently accredits fertility providers is made up of fertility care providers," she told media after the meeting. She told media her push wasn't agreed upon by Queensland, and instead the ministers decided to set up a "rapid review" with a three-month timeline to investigate creating such a body. Later; Federal Health Minister Mark Butler shared his concerns with the ABC, saying he was worried about public confidence in the sector taking a hit. "My third child is an IVF baby, I know the level of trust families place in the system to deliver them what at the time feels like a miracle baby," he revealed. The federal minister explained that Australia has "essentially eight systems of regulation across the country" because of the state-based approach. He agreed with Victoria's push for an independent accreditation body and also raised concerns about a lack of oversight of mistakes made by the industry. "We know in the last full year there were dozens of breaches of the code of conduct, but I don't know what as the federal health minister they were. They are not reported, they are not disclosed," he said. The national body representing the industry, the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand, welcomed the review and is also supportive of an independent accreditation body being created. "Such a move would deliver greater regulatory clarity, enhance accountability and give the accreditation system the agility needed to maintain high standards," a spokesperson said in a statement. The industry body also pointed out that IVF services in Australia were governed "by more than 40 separate pieces of legislation", saying this created "inconsistency, confusion and gaps in oversight". While the country's political leaders review and negotiate national reforms to regulations, there is another group also pushing for change — shareholders. The chief executive of the Australian Shareholders Association Rachel Waterhouse said shareholders at Monash IVF were seeking answers. "Shareholders are expecting a full review, a full internal investigation, the independent investigation and they want to know what comes out of that and what needs to change and have those changes in place," she said. Former fertility patient Sarah said it was important IVF patients could have faith in the system while going through a major life decision and stress. "I think having a baby and planning for a baby is one of the biggest decisions anyone can make in their life," she said. "And because it is such a life-changing decision I would expect that the patients who chose to get IVF done, get what they are wanting."
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Jim Rogers on love, loss and living well with younger-onset dementia
At the memory clinic, Jim Rogers is asked to reach out and touch his husband's left cheek with his right hand. He does the opposite — left hand, right cheek — and Tyler starts crying, because he knows something is very wrong. Jim, whose life has been shaped by searing loss and serendipitous love, was soon diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease. "It's the most horrific, evil disease," Jim tells Australian Story, "but you can live well with dementia." About 410,000 Australians are living with dementia — a number predicted to double by 2058 — and Jim hopes to reduce the stigma surrounding the condition. The 58-year-old co-hosts a podcast with broadcaster Hamish Macdonald, whose own father died from dementia last year. "I have learned that life is not over the minute you get a diagnosis — there is joy to be had," Hamish says. But while Jim puts on a brave face, his family says the cracks are starting to show. "We're on a train track to hell, and there's no stopping the train," his daughter Millie says. Before there was Jim and Tyler, there was Jim and Lorna. The "true soulmates" married in their hometown in central England in 1989, and children followed in quick succession: first Millie, then Harvey, then Daisy. "We had three under three, so we had our work cut out for us," Jim says. In 1996 they moved to Perth in search of adventure — but two years in, an irritating mole on Lorna's calf turned out to be melanoma. After her surgery they returned to the UK to be closer to family, but six months later, Lorna found a lump. The prognosis wasn't years, or months, or even weeks — but just days. "It was unbelievable. This stuff happens in a film, and we were just normal folks," Jim says. Lorna died in January 1999. When Jim told their three little kids that Mum wasn't coming home, they didn't believe him. Six-year-old Millie thought it was a game of hide-and-seek, and went off to find her. "It was so heart-wrenching to destroy that innocence in a child," Jim says. Jim became a "super dad", holding their world up — but privately, he was in ruins. "I'd get them into school and drag myself home and slam the door, shut the curtains, lie on the bed, cry, not eat — just wallow in a black cloud all day," he says. "I felt it was going to be an endless journey of sadness." Jim's parents eventually decided he needed a break; in May 2000 he reluctantly agreed to a holiday. Jim went to the hotel pool — and sat down next to Tyler. They hit it off, and kept in touch. They both felt something bigger than friendship, but Jim was full of doubt. "I started to think, this is ridiculous. Like, this is a man for a start. I've got responsibilities. I've got kids. I can't do this," Jim says. "And he was like, 'No, there's something strong here. I can't just walk away from you'." They tried to map a future, but Jim wanted things to stay normal for the kids; being openly gay in an era of "massive homophobia" didn't feel like an option. "He said, 'The only way this can work is if the house next door came up for sale," Tyler recalls. That same day, a 'For Sale' sign was knocked into the yard next door. "The exact day. You can't make this up," Tyler says. Six months after they met, Tyler and Jim became neighbours. "Behind closed doors we were living together, with the gardens and the houses shared," Jim says. The kids knew Tyler as their dad's best friend, generous and fun. Daisy was shocked when the truth eventually came out. "I broke down. I thought my life was over, to be honest," she says. "It took time to adjust. And I think moving to Australia made it easier for us." A decade later, they were all living in Sydney, and Jim and Tyler were married. "I see Tyler as a saviour of Dad because it brought him back to happiness," Daisy says. The first signs of dementia appeared a few years before Jim's diagnosis: little errors at work, repeated conversations, being a bit forgetful. But Jim worked a busy job flipping houses, and his GP put it down to stress. "One day I went to my cardiologist and she was getting a bit pissed off because my phone was constantly going off," Jim says. "She was like, 'Could you put it on silent?' And I had this blank; I couldn't think how to do it." The cardiologist referred him to a memory clinic. In 2022, at the age of 55, Jim was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's. Jim's world suddenly became smaller. He gave up his driver's licence and retired from work. He spiralled into despair. Finally, Tyler told him to "snap out of it" and stop wasting the now worrying about the future. "I was so forceful with him because I want to enjoy that now with him, for as long as I can," Tyler says, fighting back tears. Jim gave himself the weekend to wallow and started Monday with a fresh outlook. "You can turn something sad and hard into something positive and upbeat. You just have to put your mind in focus and do it," he says. He was given about 10 years, but nobody really knows how quickly it will develop. Jim says his early diagnosis has been a gift because he can make time for things he would otherwise have put off; his bucket list has a lot of ticks on it. He can also work to slow the disease: he takes medication, watches his diet, works with a trainer, swims every day and does yoga to relax his brain. "I forget that he has dementia. There are times I have to remind myself because he is doing so well," son Harvey says. Jim, who now lives in Brisbane, has become an advocate for Dementia Australia. He co-hosts the Hold The Moment podcast, which shares stories about people living with dementia and their loved ones. "It was like everything in his life has led to this moment," Millie says. This is how he met Hamish, whose father had Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia. "Going into this, I expected I was there to look after the co-host. The reality is it's actually me that needed help," Hamish says. "I was feeling quite angry about dementia. It was not an easy ride looking after Dad." Jim helped Hamish realise there was still room for fun and meaningful moments with his father. "It adjusted what I did with Dad. As often as we could, we'd go for a swim at the ocean pool so that not everything we did together was centred around dementia," Hamish says. "It was transformative." Jim likens dementia to having layers of dust accumulating on his brain. He gets lost in familiar places. He gets distracted easily. He struggles to sleep and has vivid nightmares, so he's exhausted all the time. "In the dark of night is horrible. Your mind plays tricks on you," Jim says. Jim can't protect his children like he did when their mum died — and they don't want him to. "We're saying to him all the time: 'We're adults, we have kids of our own. We can look after you'," Millie says. The family has spoken about what will happen when Jim inevitably goes downhill. "The hardest conversations are about what it looks like when he doesn't remember us," Daisy says. Jim has thought about euthanasia, but nothing has been decided yet. "I don't know if it takes more strength to take control, or more strength to go where you're going to go," he says. For now, though, he's focusing on what he loves: his husband, his children, his grandchildren, his advocacy. "Dementia isn't all doom and gloom. I want to cram so much in," Jim says. "I'm so full of life and full of love." Watch Australian Story's Forget Me Not, 8pm, on ABCTV and ABC iview.
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Andrew Miller: Anti-vaxxers need an injection of common sense
The teachers were already hoarse from shouting, coping the best they could with a gaggle of kids even more excitable than usual. 'Make a line and be quiet, knuckleheads!' growled Mr Woods. We were a squirming, '70s vaccination line, until scrawny Sean's turn. He staggered forward, put both arms behind his back and promptly threw up on the nurse and her trolley of medical paraphernalia. The class fell quiet at last — a pause before the deafening cheers. Public health is rarely glamorous. As with seatbelts, pool fences and speed limits, when your job is to prevent something happening, the credit is only theoretical. The most exciting outcome is a downward trend on a graph. This gives rise to survivor bias, which leads to people removing effective safety measures — precisely because they are working. Begrudgingly I went for blood tests the other day to prove my immunity, for the hospital administration. They wanted to see my vaccination card from the day Sean threw up, but Mum had filed it under 'not my problem' decades ago. As a nurse expertly drew my blood, I thought of Edward Jenner — not Kim Kardashian's uncle, but the 18th-century physician. A thoughtful scientist, Jenner heard that milk maids who contracted cowpox did not suffer from the similar, but far more severe disease of smallpox. He grabbed a school kid, infected them with cowpox, then later smallpox — ah the good old days — and voila, the kid was fine. Jenner had invented vaccination, and just like that — anti-vaxxers. With every medicine, there can be side effects and problems, but his initiative has saved more humans from death and disability than any other medical intervention, by a long shot. There are 27 main vaccines available for preventable diseases in Australia and together they form one pillar of our good fortune. Our children rarely die early, and some cancers — such as cervical — are in rapid decline. We are getting through COVID-19 so far with much better outcomes than the rest of world, because we delayed infection until after vaccination. It is dark news indeed that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jnr has replaced the world-recognised experts of the US Advisory Committee for Immunisation Practices with an oddball assortment including anti-vaxxers and public health sceptics. Among them, Professor Martin Kulldorff, co-author of the infamous 'let-it-rip and see who survives' Great Barrington Declaration plan for COVID-19. Also, Vicky Pebsworth, a nurse who asserts that much of the chronic disease burden in the US was caused by vaccination. Then there is Dr Robert Malone, who weighed in on the April measles death of unvaccinated eight-year-old Texan Daisy Hildebrand, minimising the danger of the virus and spreading debunked claims about the MMR vaccine. Malone claims that it was botched treatment, not measles, that led to her death. The problem for Australia is that vaccine hesitancy is contagious online, and it's easier to not get a jab than to bother. Normal people are busy and just want the best for their kids. Our slothful governments are not investing enough money, ingenuity and passion in public health promotion. To maintain herd immunity, where those few who cannot be vaccinated are protected because almost everyone else is, we need coverage of over 95 per cent of the population with MMR vaccine. Our fortunate population has little experience of children dying from infectious diseases, so can be prompted to wonder if vaccines are strictly necessary, or worse, if they might be causing more harm than good. With well-resourced misinformation it would not be hard to give measles the comeback nobody needs. Jenner might have dared dream that 200 years after his invention we could have eliminated most plagues. Unfortunately, that would have accorded too much wisdom to our species. Yet may we hope, as there are many countries like ours watching on in horror as the US sabotages its own future. Let their misfortune be no wasted lesson for us.
