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This article discusses the lessons learned from Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they can be applied to future pandemics. The experts highlight key areas such as quarantine protocols, treatments, vaccine rollout, mode of transmission, and national unity. They emphasize the need for consistent protocols, improved access to information on treatments, rapid development and evaluation of new treatments, and a cohesive approach among different jurisdictions. The article provides valuable insights for researchers and individuals interested in understanding Australia's pandemic response and preparing for future outbreaks. [Extracted from the article]

President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently isolating at home. His symptoms are described as mild, including a runny nose, cough, and general feeling of being unwell. Despite being 81 years old, Biden has received the COVID vaccine, booster shots, and is taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid. The article explains that the threat of COVID to individuals, even those over 80, has decreased significantly since 2020 due to increased immunity and the availability of antiviral medications. Additionally, Biden would have access to top-quality medical care if his symptoms were to worsen. [Extracted from the article]

As Australia faces an eighth wave of COVID infections, it is important to understand the role of rapid antigen tests (RATs) in testing for the virus. RATs are most effective when used to confirm COVID status in individuals with respiratory symptoms and are infectious. Testing is also recommended for those who have come into contact with someone with COVID or before attending large social gatherings. Multiple RATs should be done to increase confidence in negative results, as RATs are less sensitive than PCR tests. While RATs are designed to detect specific surface proteins on the virus, their ability to detect new variants is continually being assessed. It is not recommended to rely on expired RATs, as their performance cannot be guaranteed beyond the expiry date. Proper storage of RATs is also important to maintain their sensitivity. Overall, testing, along with booster vaccinations, antiviral access, and mask-wearing, continues to play a crucial role in responding to COVID. [Extracted from the article]

Consider getting a booster COVID fatigue, vaccine distribution It's not entirely clear why COVID booster rates in aged care are so low. Over half of eligible aged care residents are yet to receive their COVID booster. Read more: COVID vaccine consent for aged-care residents: it's ethically tricky, but there are ways to get it right We've tried incentives Health departments and health workers are well aware of the need to adequately protect aged care residents as we head towards winter. [Extracted from the article]

Thanks to safe and effective vaccines, along with high levels of prior infection, we have increased immunity at the population level and COVID infection is less likely to lead to severe disease. The main challenge for health authorities right now is to, on the one hand, acknowledge the reduction in the risk COVID poses while, on the other hand, ensuring people don't become complacent and completely ignore COVID. COVID remains a global emergency, the World Health Organization says, but we're at a transition point. [Extracted from the article]

Given the extent to which players inhabited their virtualpersonas, this phenomenon led some researchers to speculatethat gamifying infectious disease epidemics might be a wayto gain insights into human behaviour during a pandemic. Disease modelling has played a crucial role during theCOVID pandemic to help anticipate the spread of an entirelynew infectious disease through the population. Disease modelling and COVID The COVID pandemic has highlighted just how complex andvaried our responses to infectious disease threats are.Differences in social cohesion, trust in governments andpolitical priorities can drive these responses. [Extracted from the article]

Intrinsic transmissibility Increased intrinsic transmissibility refers to the situationwhere the R0 of variant A is higher than that of variant B.Multiple different biological changes to the virus, such aschanges that increase the infectiousness of an infectedperson, may drive this. The average number of new infections arisingfrom each infected person is the same for both variants, butthose infections happen more quickly for variant A. Thiswill lead to a more rapid rise in cases of variant A, evenwhen R0 is the same. [Extracted from the article]