Leaders of nursing and medical institutions have called on the new Labor government to step up support in the fight against COVID-19.
The Australian Co-operation for the Elderly has called on Anthony Albanese to make reform of the virus-ravaged sector a priority during his first 100 days in office.
The peak team also wants its concerns to be included in any negotiations in the coming days and weeks.
The Catholic Health Organization of Australia, a member of the AACC, says its facilities need help to cover the extra costs of preventing COVID infection, which are not reimbursed by the Commonwealth if there is no outbreak.
“Our members congratulate Anthony Albanese on his election and thank the coalition government and Scott Morrison for their public service,” said CEO Pat Garcia.
“There is always a long list of pressing issues facing any government that has arrived, but providing quality charitable assistance to our older people must be at the top.”
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has also garnered Labor support for the role played by chemists in the community during the pandemic.
Acting President Nick Panayaris says pharmacists can play a big role in deploying vaccination in Australia and ease pressure on the healthcare system.
“We need to see that pharmacists are working full time,” he said.
“They are currently underutilized, and by allowing them to provide the full range of services they are trained in, it will help ease the pressure on doctors, hospitals and emergency departments while maintaining community health.”
The early round of lobbying comes amid more than 38,000 new COVID-19 infections reported across Australia on Sunday, as well as 20 virus-related deaths.
Nearly 2,800 patients are now under hospital across the country, more than a hundred of them in intensive care units.
Of the nearly 380,000 active cases of coronavirus across Australia, almost 80 per cent are in New Wales (133,000), Western Australia (91,000) and Victoria (75,000).
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of voters with the virus were able to vote by phone in Saturday’s federal election after eleven o’clock they were given the opportunity.
Initially, anyone stuck in solitary confinement who had a positive result before 6pm last Tuesday was restricted by voting by mail.
But many missed the application deadline to do so, and then a telephone vote was extended to those who received a positive result after 6pm on 13 May.
LATEST 24-HOUR DATA ABOUT COVID-19:
New Wales: 8,523 cases, seven deaths, 1,165 in hospitals, 36 in intensive care
Victoria: 9,307 cases, 10 deaths, 541 in hospital, 29 in intensive care
ACT: 758 cases, no deaths, 92 in hospital, four in intensive care
Queensland: 4504 cases, no deaths, 432 in hospital, 17 in intensive care
Tasmania: 782 cases, one death, 47 in hospital, one in intensive care
WA: 11,557, no deaths, 326 in hospitals, 11 in intensive care
SA: 3053 cases, 2 deaths, 224 in hospital, eight in intensive care
Northern Territory: 183 cases, no deaths, 17 in hospitals, two in intensive care.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/coronavirus/nsw-vic-post-18000-new-virus-cases-c-6891127
