Blog Day 618 - Saturday 18 December 2021 - Day of Covid Nearly Normal

I think that I mentioned that I was getting my booster injection last Thursday afternoon.  Well that went smoothly with no side effects apart from a slightly sore arm.  In and out of the clinic within half an hour including the mandatory 15 minute wait after receiving the injection.

I have just checked and the vaccination received on 16/12 is already noted on my Covid-19 digital certificate.

Now triple vaccinated and ready for anything, anybody want to go on a cruise?  Even quadrupled vaxxed you wouldn't get me on one of the cruise ships.  It would be like being trapped in a Sydney leagues club for a month, although the Sydney leagues club would probably be classier.

Been a busy morning this morning with a trip to the airport.  Some friends of mine are flying to the US to visit family in Florida, so being the decent bloke that I am I offered to take them, their six year old daughter and about 4 tonne of luggage to the airport.  Neatly done, not much traffic around (as long as I kept clear of the shopping centres) and there and back without much difficulty.

Cricket on the telly this afternoon.  Day three of the second test between Australia and England being played as a day night game at Adelaide.  

Before play starts today, Australia declared near close of play last night at 9 for 473 and at close of play last night the Poms are 2 for 17.  Should be interesting viewing later this arvo.

Looks like the cool change is coming through, it has been up to 32 this morning but is currently 25 with a very blustery wind driving the change.  

The vaccination rate around the country is increasing in smaller and smaller increments, which is understandable given the high level of vaccination already achieved in some states.

Current vaccination percentages below with figure for 16/12 in brackets.

    State            1st Vax                                2nd Vax

                               %                                        %

    Vic                93.7 (93.6)                            92.0 (91.9)

    NSW            94.9 (94.8)                            93.3  (93.3)

    Qld               89.3 (88.8)                            83.6  (82.6)

    Aus                93.7 (93.5)                            90.1 (89.7)

Daily infection rates in Victoria have levelled of a bit at around 1,500 per day but the daily rate in NSW continues to increase alarmingly with 2,482 new cases reported in the last 24 hours.

I am a little surprised that given the level of daily infections in Victoria our testing numbers are relatively low at 88,000 results received in the last 24 hours compared to 137,000 results received in NSW in the same period.

Hospitalisation, ICU and ventilation patient numbers are remaining reasonably steady in Victoria with 384 in hospital, 84 in ICU and 43 on ventilators in the state as at today.

In the last 24 hours Victoria reported 7 deaths due to the virus and 7 the day before. This figure is also remaining steady.  NSW has reported one death per day for the last two days, given their number of new infections I would expect their death numbers to increase in due course.

Corona Virus Daily Stats – 18 December 2021 – Day 49 of Covid Nearly Normal

Date	Aus Infected	Aus Increase	Aus 1st Dose Vacc	Vic Infected	Vic Increase	NSW Increase	*Aus Active Infection	NSW Active Infection	Vic Active Infection	Aus 2nd Dose Vacc
01/12					1,179	251
02/12					1,419	271
03/12	214,881	1,538	92.6%	125,474	1,189	337	15,999	2,851	12,913	87.4%
04/12					1,349	323
05/12					966	281
06/12	219,123	1,281	92.8%	128,862	1,073	208	20,006	3,251	16,503	88.0%
07/12
08/12					1,312	403
09/12					1,232	420
10/12
11/12					1,193	560
12/12
13/12					1,240	536
14/12	232,766	2,015	93.4%	138,409	1,189	804	16,743	5,179	11,051	89.5%
15/12					1,405	1,360
16/12	238,956	3,398	93.5%	141,426	1,622	1,742	20,185	7,647	12,252	89.7%
17/12					1,510	2,213
18/12	246,789	4,036	93.7%	144,411	1,504	2,482	25,617	11,760	13,443	90.1%
19/12

Corona Virus Daily Stats Hospitalisation Etc – 18 December 2021 – Day 49 of Covid Nearly Normal
Date	Aus New Infection	Aus Hospital	Aus ICU	Aus Ventilate	Vic New Infection	Vic Hospital	Vic ICU	Vic Ventilate	AUS Daily Deaths	Vic Daily Deaths
01/12						299	43	18		5
02/12						288	41	20		10
03/12	1,538	509	71	32	1,189	289	43	22	11	11
04/12					1,349					8
05/12					966					7
06/12	1,281	556	72	24	1,073	310	45	19	4	6
07/12
08/12
09/12
10/12
11/12
12/12
13/12
14/12	2,015	612	102	53	1,189	364	80	44	7	6
15/12
16/12	3,398	670	114	57	1,622	384	87	49	9	9
17/12					1,510				8	7
18/12	4,036	704	110	52	1,504	384	84	43	8	7
19/12

Now of to watch some cricket!