Flirting with trouble

COVID has declined from an international emergency four years ago to a mild inconvenience today, but a new variant called FLiRT could herald a resurgence this winter.

Does long COVID exist?

Long COVID may be no different to other post-viral syndromes, according to Australian research which found that people who tested positive for COVID-19 a year ago were no more likely to report moderate-to-severe functional limitations than people who had influenza.

Remember COVID?

The COVID pandemic, which began four years ago, seems like a science fiction story in retrospect, with mass public lockdowns, vast handouts of government support and closely watched daily press conferences about a new disease which now seems little more threatening than the common cold.

How COVID took the fun out of shopping

A QUT researcher has found that – in the post-COVID era – shoppers now seek functional and transactional value, rather than fun and social interactions when visiting a shopping centre.

COVID past, present and future

Despite, rather than because, of its federal government, Australia managed to evade the worst of the initial COVID epidemic, but now the disease has slipped from the headlines and political attention, its impact is worse than ever.

Will we need a fourth shot for COVID?

While coronavirus has fallen from the headlines of late, the pandemic continues to claim lives around Australia and the rest of the world. Will COVID vaccinations become an annual event, or have we had enough shots to last us a lifetime?

What’s next after omicron?

Omicron has had a huge impact on Australia in a matter of weeks – but while we are still grappling with this variant – should we be planning for the next variant – or the one after that?

A royal commission for COVID?

A royal commission would not detract from Australia’s undoubted successes in dealing with COVID but would put us in a better position to confront a future wave or new pandemic.

Australia’s COVID performance flatters to deceive

Australia managed the COVID-19 crisis better than many other countries, but there are still too many instances where policies and responses appeared ad hoc or unintelligible, driving up costs, illnesses and deaths.

Lies, damned lies and COVID statistics

Rather than deal in ‘pleasing’ platitudes, federal and state governments should tell us everything they know about COVID infections, hospitalisations and deaths. So why don’t they?

Controlling COVID in 2022

Australia and the rest of the world have the tools and knowledge to finally get the COVID epidemic under control in 2022.

Riding the big wave

Modelling used by the NSW government suggests up to half the state’s population will contract omicron in the present wave, so what figures should we follow to show when the worst is over?