Australia's death rate from B.A4, BA.5/Covid-19 has surpassed most countries in the world relative to its population.

 

As discussed in this post, the curse of overconfidence and the fixation on economic activity over health.   With almost no restrictions at all imposed on the global populous, while opening up tourism and consumption like no tomorrow, nature is beating us down once again.  You don't 'live with the virus', like the mantra of mainly right wing commentators and politicians, you can die from it.  Unless you are somewhat immune lucky or have been vaccinated (x3 and x4 shots) from a non seasonal (although winter is its severe beatdown, due to people mingling in doors) viral pathogen that is in constant mutation due to vaccine inequality and recklessness.  It is not the flu,  à la long Covid complications.

Australia, which takes it cues from the Northern Hemisphere in relation to dealing with the virus as a policy driven by economics, has had a brutal 3rd wave hit the country in the middle of their Winter, with most of it State leaders and Prime Minister all saying, despite the hospital system at breaking point and death, that they will not implement mask mandates for indoor, retail and events.