Summarised by Centrist
Five years after the pandemic began, COVID is still being reported as New Zealand’s “most harmful infectious disease,” with claims that hospital-acquired infections are a major issue.
Despite this, hospitals have rolled back many COVID policies, and Health New Zealand no longer collects data on hospital-onset cases.
Some experts argue for better infection tracking, ventilation upgrades, and even reinstating mask mandates in hospitals to prevent preventable illness and deaths.
Across the ditch, Australia is recording a significant number of hospital-acquired COVID deaths, with reports suggesting 10-15% of total fatalities stem from infections caught in hospitals.
Infection control experts are questioning why hospitals aren’t taking greater precautions, with one stating, “If hospitals were recording similar numbers of deaths from ‘golden staph,’ swift action would be taken.”
Editor’s note: The article paints a grim picture of hospital-acquired COVID and lingering “long COVID” symptoms but avoids asking the obvious: Why are so many people still suffering, even years after mass vaccination campaigns?
While authorities insist the focus should be on upgrading hospital ventilation and tracking infections, there is little discussion about the long-term impact of the so-called “safe and effective” measures already taken.
Perhaps it’s time to ask different questions—ones that go beyond masks, mandates, and monitoring.
Read more over at The NZ Herald
Image: Tom Ackroyd
