18 million flu vaccine doses, physical distancing avoid flu outbreak but renewed warning about symptoms

Australia has recorded 226 new cases of coronavirus, as authorities reiterate the warning for people with flu-like symptoms to get tested.

Australians have been warned that if they have flu-like symptoms they are most likely to have COVID-19 and should be tested, as the nation recorded a further 226 new cases overnight.

The majority of new cases came from Victoria, but there was one new case in WA - a returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine.

Three people were also diagnosed in NSW, including one returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine and two who acquired the infection locally.

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Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said on Tuesday there were very few cases of influenza in Australia this year and transmission had been low.

Between January and June, only 36 deaths were reported from influenza, compared to 430 for the same period last year.

Authorities had feared a “double whammy” of COVID-19 and influenza this winter but it has so far been avoided.

That is in part due to a record number of people who have been immunised this year, with 18 million doses of flu vaccine, compared to 13 million last year.

Professor Kidd said it was also due to physical distancing measures that had been put in place since the start of the pandemic.

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“We feared a double whammy of COVID-19 and influenza, and we have avoided this so far this winter,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“A reminder though that if you have symptoms ... it is unlikely to be influenza, it is more likely to be COVID-19.

“Please, if you have symptoms, no matter how mild, arrange to get tested.”

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd is warning people with flu-like symptoms that they more likely have COVID-19. Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Australia’s death tally from coronavirus sits at 438.

“We’re seeing the continuing signs of a sustained reduction in daily numbers of cases in Victoria,” Professor Kidd said.

“Tragically though, we’ve seen another 17 new deaths reported in the past 24 hours, all in Victoria.”

Professor Kidd said there was still a way to go to keep community transmission down in NSW.

“These outcomes reinforce for all of us the importance of getting tested if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, of continuing to follow the physical distancing measures in your state and territory, and the guidance on mask wearing,” he said.

“It also reinforces the continuing focus on contract tracing, making sure we’re following up every new case, every day.”

In total, 23,773 people have been diagnosed in Australia, including 2076 in the past week.

There are still more than 7500 active cases, including 682 people in hospital, of which 52 are in intensive care.

More than 5.3 million tests have been conducted in Australia.

Asked about a pool party in Wuhan, China, where there were no masks or physical distancing, Professor Kidd said: “I think it’s alarming any time we see very large groups of people coming together in such a manner.”