Barwon Health reveals 2022 has been our deadliest year, as Covid fatalities surge

New data has revealed Covid-19 deaths have more than quadrupled across the region this year, with authorities issuing an important warning for the long weekend.

Almost three quarters of deaths among Covid patients in the Barwon South-West region occurred since the start of this year, new data shows.

As of Monday, there had been 64 deaths among Covid-19 patients in the Barwon South West since the start of the pandemic in January 2020.

The figures provided by Barwon Health revealed 11 of those occurred in 2020, seven in 2021 and 46 in 2022.

Barwon South West public health unit director Eugene Athan said in 2022, with the more infectious Omicron variant and relaxing of restrictions, there had been significantly more Covid cases, which resulted in more deaths.

Commander COVID-19 Response Jeroen Weimar met with Barwon South West Public Health Unit director Professor Eugene Athan at Rotary House. Picture: Alison Wynd

“But critically as a consequence of high vaccination rates and new antiviral treatment options, there is a much a lower case fatality rate,” Professor Athan said.

“The proportion of cases who have died is six per 10,000 population in 2022 compared to 18 per 10,000 in 2021 and 187 per 10,000 in 2020.”

He said deaths were expected to decline as case numbers reduced, vaccinations rates improved including with the winter booster for at risk individuals, and as high-risk individuals accessed antiviral treatments.

Prof Athan said the largest proportion of the deaths in 2022 (97 per cent) in the region had occurred in those aged 70 and above.

“It is important for the community to understand that Covid-19 causes serious illness and people do die from COVID-19, particularly the elderly and people with complex medical conditions,” he said.

Covid testing at Barwon Health North. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“There is an even higher risk of death for unvaccinated individuals.”

He said to reduce your risk of severe illness and death from Covid, it’s important to receive the booster dose of vaccine. and the winter booster fourth dose for eligible high-risk individuals including people aged 65 and over.

“Stay home and test if you have Covid symptoms during the holiday period to reduce the transmission among our community,” Prof Athan said.

With people set to gather over Easter, Healthdirect Australia chief medical officer Dr Nirvana Luckraj warned the virus still needed to be taken seriously.

“It’s still important to keep practising the lessons we’ve learnt over the last two years to help us come through the holidays in good health,” she said.

On Thursday, 377 new cases were reported for Greater Geelong, with 77 for the Surf Coast, one for the Borough of Queenscliffe, 40 for Golden Plains and 26 for Colac-Otway.

This was followed on Friday by 377 new cases reported by the health department for Greater Geelong, 63 for Surf Coast, five for the Borough of Queenscliffe, 33 for Golden Plains and 49 for Colac-Otway.

On Thursday 10,462 new cases and 14 deaths were reported for Victoria, followed by 9664 new cases and seven deaths on Friday.

Originally published as Barwon Health reveals 2022 has been our deadliest year, as Covid fatalities surge