Category: Corona Virus

The development comes as a case of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 has been detected in Kerala

India on Sunday reported 335 fresh coronavirus cases and five deaths. Four people succumbed to COVID-19 in Kerala whereas one person died in Uttar Pradesh. The number of active cases crossed 1,700 and went up to 1,701,as per the Union Health Ministry data.

India's total caseload stands at 4.50 crore and the death toll at 5.33 lakh, as per the data. More than 4.44 crore people have recovered from coronavirus so far. While the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, the case fatality rate stands at 1.19 per cent. Around 220.67 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in India so far, as per the ministry.

The development comes as a case of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 has been detected in Kerala under the routine surveillance by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). The sub-variant was detected in a positive RT-PCR sample from Thiruvananthapuram's Karakulam on December 8.

The sample, belonging to a 79-year-old woman, tested positive for COVID-19 on November 18. The woman had mild symptoms of influenza-like illness and has since recovered from COVID. A central government release said that the Union Health Ministry in touch with Kerala authorities.

"There has been an increasing trend of Covid cases from Kerala since the last few weeks. This has been attributed to an increase in several samples from ILI cases being referred for testing. A majority of these cases are clinically mild and recovering on their own at their homes without any treatment," the press release said.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said that the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 was not a cause for concern. George told the media that the sub-variant was detected months ago in Indian passengers screened at the Singapore airport.She, however, asked people to remain cautious and urged those with comorbidities to remain careful.

"There is no need for any concern. It's a sub-variant. It was just found here. Months ago, this variant was detected in a few Indians who were screened at the Singapore airport. It's just that Kerala has identified the variant here through genome sequencing. There is no need to worry. The situation is being closely monitored," she said.

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COVID-19 in India: 5 deaths reported, active caseload crosses 1,700 - Business Today

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Respiratory illnesses and hospitalizations trend up in central Illinois - The State Journal-Register

A study of hospitalized Veterans Affairs (VA) patients found that combination therapy was not associated with decreased mortality for multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter infections, researchers reported yesterday in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.

The retrospective cohort study, led by a team of VA researchers, looked at VA patients who were hospitalized with MDR Acinetobacter bacteremia and received antibiotics 2 days prior through 5 days after the culture date from 2012 through 2018. The aim was to assess the impact of antibiotic treatments on in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality and costs.

MDRAcinetobacter spp.was identified in 184 patients. Most patients were older (mean age, 67 years), White, non-Hispanic men. The vast majority of cultures identified wereA baumannii (90%), while 3% wereA lwoffii,and 7% were otherAcinetobacter species.Half (50.5%) of the infected patients died in hospital, 44% within 30 days, and 67.9% within 1 year.

Penicillins/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (51.1%) and carbapenems (51.6%) were the most prescribed antibiotics. In unadjusted analysis, extended-spectrum cephalosporins and penicillins/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations were associated with a decreased odds of 30-day mortality, but the effect was insignificant after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21 to 1.05 and aOR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.37 to 1.53, respectively). There was no association between combination therapy vs monotherapy and 30-day mortality (aOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.72 to 3.32).

The results are noteworthy, the authors say, because while the Sanford Guide and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend combination therapy (high-dose ampicillin-sulbactam plus an additional agent) for treating severe MDRAcinetobacterinfections, the findings add to evidence from prior studies that have found limited improved clinical outcomes with combination therapy.

"Our results provide additional comparative effectiveness demonstrating a lack of benefit to combination therapy given within 2 through +5 days from the culture date," they wrote.

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WHO advisers recommend sticking with monovalent COVID XBB.1.5 vaccines - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Kerala has detected the first JN,1 subvariant of COVID in the country in a 79-year-old woman. Experts believe that while vigilance should be increased, there is no reason to panic. File image/Reuters

We are just a few days away from bidding adieu to 2023 but it seems that COVID-19 is here to stay. On Saturday, the Centre confirmed the presence of the JN.1 subvariant of coronavirus in a patient from Kerala a first for the country.

The confirmation of this subvariant of COVID-19 has put the Centre and states on alert; the Health Ministry is in touch with state health authorities and monitoring the situation at points of entry. Moeover, a mock drill has been conducted across health facilities in various states to assess their public health and hospital preparedness measures.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also said that the virus is evolving and changing and urged the member states to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing.

With the detection of this subvariant of COVID-19 in India, the question that is being asked then is: Should we be worried?

What is the JN.1 subvariant?

JN.1 was first detected in Luxembourg in August followed by England, Iceland, France, the United States and China. According to COVID scientists, JN.1 is a descendant of the BA.2.86, also known as Pirola which came from Omicron. Amesh Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, was quoted as telling Prevention.com, JN.1 is another Omicron variant.

According to experts, the virus has once again mutated; the BA.2.86 underwent a Flip mutation and turned into the JN.1, which now has the ability to bind to our cells even stronger than other Omicron variants and as an increased transmissibility too.

Dr Thomas Russo, a professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, stated that JN.1 has an additional mutation on its spike protein from BA.2.86, which is what COVID uses to latch onto your cells and make you sick.

How prevalent is JN.1?

The short answer: very. In the United States, the JN.1 subvariant accounts for more than one-fifth of all infections. Data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that in the two-week period ending on 9 December, while HV.1 accounted for about 30 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the US, it was the JN.1 subvariant, which was the second-most prevalent strain, making up about 21 per cent of cases, followed by EG.5.

In fact, as recently as 14 December, the CDC said, The continued growth of JN.1 suggests that it is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems.

In China too, cases of JN.1 have been detected. The Asian nation has detected seven cases of infection as recently as 16 December. The health authorities said the prevalence of JN.1 was very low in the country. However, it added that it couldnt rule out the possibility of it becoming the dominant strain in China due to factors including imported cases.

Many scientists note that JN.1 could be the reason for the rise in COVID cases in the country. But there are others who say its still too early to tell if JN.1 is to blame for these levels. The CDC noted that the increase in infections could be the regular ebb and flow of COVID.

And Mark Cameron, PhD, associate professor and infectious disease researcher at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, also concurred with the CDC. Speaking to Health.com, he said that the rise in COVID infections meant that the virus is now reaching a wider range of people, many of whom are more vulnerable to severe disease. So even though these numbers are ticking up in tandem with JN.1s rise, it doesnt necessarily mean that the variant is more deadly.

Also read: December Blues: Is COVID-19 making a comeback amid holiday season?

What are the symptoms of JN.1?

Medical experts say it is still unknown if JN.1 causes different symptoms from other variants. In general, symptoms of COVID-19 tend to be similar across variants, the CDC said. The types of symptoms and how severe they are usually depend more on a persons immunity and overall health rather than which variant causes the infection.

Dr Nighat Arif pointed out that those infected by JN.1would get a temperature, a runny nose and a headache and lose their sense of smell. However, some would get diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Another tell-tale sign of JN.1 is the extreme fatigue caused, with some complaining that they feel shattered after catching it.

Doctors have also been quick to point out that vaccines seem to be the effective way of evading the virus. Dr William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, Tennessee, said that people should get their vaccination before they go shopping, attend religious services or travel. He also recommended masking in densely populated indoor areas as another layer of protection.

What do we know about the Indian case?

In India, a 79-year-old woman became the first JN.1 case to be registered. It was detected in an RT-PCR-positive sample from Karakulam in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala on 8 December.

According to doctors, the elderly woman had mild symptoms of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and has since recovered from COVID.

Commenting on the case, Kerala health minister Veena George said that the detection of the infection was not a reason to panic. Speaking to the media about the new variant, George said this was detected months ago in Indian passengers who were screened at Singapore Airport.

There is no need for any concern. Its a sub-variant. It was just found here. Months ago, this variant was detected in a few Indians who were screened at the Singapore Airport. Its just that Kerala has identified the variant here through genome sequencing. There is no need to worry. The situation is being closely monitored, she said.

She, however, asked people to remain cautious and said those with comorbidities should be careful.

And should we be concerned?

Experts across the nation have said that there is no reason to panic and measures such as masking, hand washing should be practised. Dr Anita Mathew, Director-Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Mulund told Economic Times, There is no need to panic as in general, all respiratory illness numbers increase during winter and so far the disease hasnt left people gasping for breath. Hence, though we need to be cautious and mindful to prevent the illness, there is no need to panic.

Dr Ishwar Gilada, Secretary General Peoples Health Organisation-India and Organised Medicine Academic Guild-OMAG, also added that so far the new subvariant JN.1 has not manifested severe symptoms. There are no severe infections, no ICU admissions, no requirement of oxygen and ventilator, he said.

Senior Consultant in Chest Medicine at Delhis Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Ujjwal Prakash told news agency ANI that although vigilance is crucial, there is no need for people to panic. You need to be more vigilant. I dont think that theres reason to panic or do anything extra than just being vigilant.

Echoing similar sentiments, health expert Dr Niroj Misha said that COVID variant JN.1 is a mild disease which has minimum symptoms and only 0.5 per cent requiring some assistance.

Health Expert Dr Niroj Mishra on December 17 told Economic Times, This variant has been deducted first in the USA and now it is actually there are cases in Singapore. Last week, 56,000 of cases have been detected in Singapore. It is spreading faster and it is a mild disease. Out of 56,000 only 350 required hospitalisation and nine in the ICU. There are some cases detected from November in India but so far we dont have big impact. There are 312 case detected today but even this spread in large number of people then also 99.5 per cent will be detected and have minimum symptoms, only 0.5 per cent requiring some assistance.

With inputs from agencies

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Published on: December 18, 2023 09:54:49 IST

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India records first JN.1 variant of COVID-19: Should we be concerned? - Firstpost

Joy Behar has successfully avoided the COVID-19 virus until now.

The View host, 81, will be absent from a few episodes of the daytime talk show after contracting the virus for the first time ever, her co-host Whoopi Goldberg revealed on Tuesdays show, according to Entertainment Weekly.

"Joy is out this week. You know why? She finally got COVID," Goldberg told the audience. "Three years, four years in, it finally got her."

Fellow co-host Sara Haines added that Behar "can finally stop bragging now" that she never caught COVID-19 which is something she has mentioned on the show.

Yvette Nicole Brown took over the hosting duties from Behar on Tuesday, though it was unclear if she would stay in the seat for the rest of the week. Behar was also absent on Monday, though she typically takes that day off.

Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via Getty

This isnt the first time that the daytime host has been absent due to the COVID-19. She previously took a few days off the show in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic amid concerns of the virus spreading.

Im in a higher risk group because of my age, but Im perfectly healthy, Behar said of her decision to opt out of a few shows.

I dont look my age, but Im actually up there. The number makes me dizzy, added Behar, whose precautionary decision to stay home came at the urging of her daughter.

Several of The View hosts have previously tested positive for the virus or have had close calls in the past. Goldberg tested positive for the virus in January 2022 and then again a few months later in November 2022. The first time she tested positive, she noted that she had mild symptoms after being vaccinated and receiving the booster shot.

Sara Haines also was absent in January 2022 after having close contact with someone with the virus.

In 2021, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro were publicly pulled off The View stage after their COVID-19 test results showed up positive ahead of an appearance by Vice President Kamala Harris. Though their tests were later revealed to be false positives.

The View airs weekdays on ABC (check local listings).

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Joy Behar Out Sick from The View After Getting COVID for First Time: 'It Finally Got Her' - PEOPLE

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Planned Parenthood affiliates received $90 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans meant for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the Government Accountability office (GAO) released Tuesday morning.

The PPP loans were designed to bail out small independent businesses with less than 500 employees. But pro-life advocates raised concerns with the Small Business Administration an independent government agency that supports entrepreneurs and argued that Planned Parenthood has more than 16,000 employees across the country, well above the cutoff to be considered a small business.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., one of the lawmakers who requested the report in January 2022, called the findings "appalling."

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ANNOUNCES RETURN OF ABORTION IN WISCONSIN AFTER KEY COURT RULING

Planned Parenthood signage is displayed outside of a health care clinic in Inglewood, California on May 16, 2023. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

"While small businesses struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic, Planned Parenthood illegally siphoned over $90 million from the Paycheck Protection Program, specifically designed to help our mom and pop shops keep their doors open," Blackburn said in a statement.

She added, "The American people want their tax dollars spent responsibly and in line with our nations values not on the Lefts abortion-on-demand agenda."

The report, also requested by New Jersey House Rep. Chris Smith, outlined federal funding received by several major pro-abortion organizations between 2019 and 2021 amounting to nearly $2 billion.

Smith said the PPP loans were "money that could have gone to struggling small businesses, many of which were forced to close."

"This money would have been better spent helping the businesses that were forced to close or providing comprehensive medical support for both women and children," Smith told Fox News Digital in a statement.

Aside from the PPP loans, government sources that funneled funds to the organization included Medicaid, Medicare, and Children's Health Insurance Program reimbursements, along with federal funding through grants and cooperative agreements amounting to $148.5 million.

Between 2019 and 2021, Planned Parenthood obtained $1.78 billion in government funding and executed one million abortion procedures, while International Planned Parenthood Federation received $2.03 million, MSI Reproductive Choices received $1.35 million, and four regional abortion providers got $107.74 million in funding.

PSAKI REPEATS CLAIM THAT DEMS DONT SUPPORT ABORTION UNTIL BIRTH: ENTIRELY MISLEADING

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., questions Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during a Senate Finance committee hearing about President Joe Biden's proposed budget request for the fiscal year 2024, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The report noted that in 2019, Planned Parenthood, under the Trump Administration's Protect Life Rule, declined Title X funding a federal grant program that provides funding for family planning and reproductive health services due to the rule's stipulation against abortion referrals and demanded financial separation from abortion providers.

The GAO found that Planned Parenthoods refusal to comply and forfeit its Title X funding "led almost all affiliates to discontinue using family planning grants under Title X" during 2020 and 2021.

From 2019 to 2021, Planned Parenthood conducted 1.11 million abortions while obtaining around $1.78 billion in federal funding, equating to an average of $592 million annually, according to the report.

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Planned Parenthood operates over 600 health centers across the United States.

Fox News Digital reached out to Planned Parenthood for comment.

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Planned Parenthood received $90 million in PPP loans during COVID-19 pandemic - Fox News

Health

By Marc Lallanilla

Published Dec. 12, 2023, 12:19 p.m. ET

In the rush of holiday activities, you may have forgotten about COVID-19 but it hasnt forgotten about us.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that as of November 25, there were almost 20,000 weekly hospitalizations due to the coronavirus, a jump of nearly 30% in just four weeks.

The rates of hospitalization typically a sign of severe, life-threatening infection have been highest among seniors ages 65 and older. Adults ages 50 to 64 were also hospitalized at rising rates, as were infants and children younger than four years old.

COVID has not disappeared, although it may have gone from many peoples minds, Dr. William Schaffner, professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told ABC News. Im afraid the COVID virus is still very much with us.

One reason hospitalizations have jumped in recent weeks is because fewer people are getting vaccinated this year compared to earlier in the pandemic.

Over 94% of adults aged 65 and older have completed a primary series of the original vaccine, but just 33% of those seniors have received the updated vaccine, according to the CDC. And earlier vaccines have limited strength against newer variants of the coronavirus.

Many people, although they have been vaccinated in the past, have not taken advantage of this updated vaccine, Schaffner said. And the protection afforded by the previous vaccinations is now slowly declining. And so, we have a highly vulnerable population whose protection is slowly waning.

Moreover, people above the age of 50 are likely to have underlying health conditions and chronic diseases that leave them vulnerable to severe disease and hospitalization.

Infants and young children under age 4 have the third-highest rate of hospitalizations, according to the CDC, at 1.6% per 100,000 for the week ending December 2.

And young children have very low rates of vaccination, according to CDC data: Less than 7% of children ages six months to 17 years have received the updated vaccine as of November 25.

Experts believe that many people assume healthy children are immune to severe COVID-19 infection.

Everyone knows that children are less apt to be seriously affected by COVID infections than older adults, said Schaffner. The alternate concept that is hard for parents to grasp is that nonetheless, young children account for the third most common age group with hospitalizations.

Healthcare providers are concerned that as the holiday season continues, infections of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses will also continue to climb.

Past trends show that increases in severe illnesses and hospitalizations have occurred during the colder months when people stay indoors, close their windows and gather to celebrate the holidays, creating ideal conditions for respiratory viruses to spread, Dr. John Brownstein of Boston Childrens Hospital told ABC News.

As people gather for the holidays, its crucial to remain vigilant about COVID-19, especially in protecting vulnerable populations like the elderly and infants, Brownstein said.

Practicing good hygiene, such as regular hand washing, and staying home if feeling unwell are key. Additionally, ensuring proper ventilation in indoor spaces and considering wearing masks in crowded settings can significantly reduce the risk of transmission.

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COVID-19 hospitalizations jump 30%: 'Virus is still very much with us' - New York Post

New data shows that Americans living in four key states are suffering the highest prevalence of COVID-19 infections in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Each week, the CDC produces a map of the U.S. showing the rates of people testing positive for COVID-19 after taking a test. The percentage of positive cases are subsequently calculated and shown on a map. Results are no longer provided for individual states, but are instead recorded as an average across various administrative regions.

The results come as winter tightens its grip across the country. Colder weather tends to lead to an increased spread in viruses and other infections, as immunity is lower. One 2020 study found the COVID-19 virus itself could remain active for longer in cold, dry conditions.

Region Sevenan administrative area consisting of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraskais once again at the top of this chart as it has the highest proportion of COVID-19 diagnoses following testing. That region saw the most cases out of the entire U.S. in last week's figures, too.

Published on Monday, but relating to the week through December 2, the latest results show that 16.7 percent of tests proved positive, out of 6,541 tests taken. Those figures are up 0.3 percent on the previous week's.

Last week, administrative area 5 (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota) and 8 (the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado) all saw COVID-19 diagnoses in between 10 percent and 14.9 percent of tests. Those regions saw similar figures this week.

However, the two areas have now been joined by another pair of administrative regions recording that percentage range of positive tests. That means yet more states that are experiencing higher COVID-19 results have been added to the map.

Administrative area 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) and 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia) are now also recording percentages of between 10 percent and 14.9 percent of tests confirming COVID-19 cases. In the previous week's figures, all those states had between a 5 percent and 9.9 percent positive-test result rating.

A CDC spokesperson previously told Newsweek that fall marks the "typical start of the respiratory virus season" and said hospitalization rates "could increase" heading into the winter months.

Localized rises of COVID-19 cases through the summer prompted some private institutions, hospital operators and colleges in the U.S. to reintroduce the requirements for staff or visitors to wear masks while at their sites. Many of the institutions have since relaxed their mask mandates, although some hospitals in New Jersey later brought them back in response to infection rates.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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COVID Map Shows 4 States With Higher Positive Cases - Newsweek

Nothing puts a damper on your holiday plans like a positive

But what if that line is, like, super faint? Do you still have COVIDor can you go ahead and attend your office party like you planned?

Well, unfortunately, infectious disease experts stress that a faint line is definitely worth paying attention toalthough a re-test may be in your future.

Here's what you need to know.

Its probably not what youre hoping to hear, but a faint line on a COVID test means you have COVID-19. A faint line is a positive test result, says infectious disease expert Amesh Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Thomas Russo, MD, a professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, agrees. A faint line means youre almost certainly positive, he says.

Kind of. If you test positivefaint or notit means that you have infectious COVID-19 particles in your body, Dr. Russo says.

But how dark the line is does give you a little insight into whats going on, Dr. Adalja says. The less dark, the line is, the less viral material that is present, he says. This could reflect diminishing contagiousness, or the start of it.

Meaning, you could be becoming more contagious or less contagious at that point, but a lot depends on the context. If youve been sick for a while and get a faint test result, it might mean youre getting better and are less likely to make others sick. If you just started feeling sick and you got a faint line, you likely only recently became infectious.

Remember, though, the CDC still advises staying home for five days after testing positiveor until you test negative.

It's also entirely possible that you just didnt get a great sample, which could lead to a faint line, Dr. Russo says.

Yes, it does. (Sorry.) Since home tests are not as sensitive as PCR testswhich are considered the gold standard of COVID-19 testinggetting a positive result still means that you have a fair amount of virus in your body, Dr. Russo says. A faint line means youre positive and infectious.

Lots of new COVID variants have emerged since home tests were created. And, FWIW, the most common variants in the U.S. right now include HV.1, JN.1, and EG.5, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But doctors stress that home tests should still detect any new variant.

Why? A lot of changes in new variants have been on the spike protein, which SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) uses to latch onto your cells and infect you. The home tests are not based on the spike protein, Dr. Russo says. They detect nucleocapsid protein. The home tests should work for these new variants as well.

Dr. Russo also stresses this point: If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and test negative, it doesnt necessarily mean you dont have COVID. The sensitivity of these tests is 80 percent at best, he says. If the test is positive, you know you have COVID. If the result is negative, it doesnt necessarily mean you dont have COVID. (Usually for reasons like the sample you took wasn't the best or the amount of virus in your body isn't high enough yet.)

If you have symptoms and test negative, he suggests testing yourself again in 24 hours and seeing what you get. If youre still negative but feel sick, call your doctor. Its entirely possible that you have the flu, RSV, or something else.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.

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Is A Faint Line On My COVID Test Positive? Experts Explain - Women's Health

Australia's eighth COVID-19 wave may be peaking, but people are being warned to be wary of the virus as the festive season ramps up.

But now that there are no hard and fast rules regarding isolation, what should you do if you get COVID-19?

Here's a quick refresh.

Australia's Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the latest COVID wave has been less severe in terms of hospitalisation, but warned cases may rise.

"My sense is that we have probably peaked and will start to decrease [in cases]," Professor Kelly told ABC News Breakfast last week.

"[However] we are in the festive season and there are lots of parties and so forth so the possibility that transmission will happen is certainly there."

The amount of time someone remains infectious with COVID can be hard to pinpoint.

However, Adelaide epidemiologist Adrian Esterman says there is evidence that suggests people can shed virus particles between day seven and 10 from diagnosis.

"However, if symptoms have resolved [no coughing or sneezing], they would be less likely to infect others," Professor Esterman said.

Here's what a spokesperson from the federal Department of Health had to say:

"The infectious period is dependent on individual factors such as age, severity of illness, vaccination status, including time since last vaccination against COVID-19, and whether someone is immunocompromised.

"Some people can have a prolonged infectious period, however most people with mild-moderate illness are unlikely to be infectious for more than 10 days after symptom onset.

"Recent evidence suggests most children are likely no longer infectious by five days following a positive COVID-19 test."

Yes. They haven't changed since the start of the pandemic.

According to the department you can experience:

You're not required by law to isolate if you have COVID-19 symptoms, but it is strongly encouraged you stay at home.

Here's what the federal health website says to do if you test positive for COVID-19:

You should not visit high-risk settings like hospitals and aged and disability care settings:

To help protect those around you, we recommend:

If you do need to leave your home during the infectious period, Professor Esterman recommends wearing a P2/N95 mask to protect others.

A new vaccine targeting the Omicron subvariant XBB 1.5 is now available in pharmacies and GPs across Australia.

Three versions of XBB 1.5 is available:

Australian Medical Association vice-president Danielle McMullan said vaccines do take 7-14 days to reach full effectiveness so if you're due for a booster, now is the time.

"The new XBB vaccines recently approved by ATAGI are better targeted to the strains currently circulating in Australia and provide a modest improvement in immunity compared to previous vaccines," Dr McMullan said.

Eligibility varies based on age, other health conditions, how many vaccines you've already had and when, and whether you've recently had a COVID infection. The vaccine advisory group ATAGI explains in more detail on its website.

The federal government now reports COVID-19 case numbers via the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.

Between November 1 and November 30, 43,899 cases were reported across the country.

This is compared to 27,903 cases reported for the month of October.

One thing to keep in mind is the figures for November may lag due to backlogs in notifications from the states and territories.

The ABC has been monitoring the figures for November and they're still changing every day.

Here's the state by state breakdown of laboratory case numbers for November as of Tuesday, December 12:

Meanwhile, the latest national data on hospital admissions shows there were 118 people with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals in the seven days to December 4, with 54 of those cases in ICU.

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How long are you contagious with COVID-19? Here's what to know if you test positive - ABC News