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Millions of COVID-19 infections expected before spring: Butler

The federal health minister has urged Australians to follow the advice to wear masks and work from home where possible, but warns that there is little appetite for mandates.

Millions of new COVID-19 infections are expected around Australia in the last six weeks of winter, according to Health Minister Mark Butler, as he urges the community to follow strong advice to wear masks and work from home where possible.

Mr Butler warned on Wednesday that there was little appetite for strict mandates but that commonsense interpretation of advice from chief health officers was sufficient to limit the transmission of the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants that were driving a “very substantial” third wave of cases.

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Tom McIlroy is the Financial Review’s Canberra bureau chief based in the press gallery at Parliament House. He was previously the AFR’s political correspondent. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at thomas.mcilroy@afr.com
Tom Burton has held senior editorial and publishing roles with The Mandarin, The Sydney Morning Herald and as Canberra bureau chief for The Australian Financial Review. He has won three Walkley awards. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at tom.burton@afr.com

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/albanese-urges-rat-stockpiling-covid-ship-hits-sydney-20220713-p5b17s