Federal government commits to $1.4 billion COVID spend as aged care outbreaks continue
2 years, 3 months ago

Federal government commits to $1.4 billion COVID spend as aged care outbreaks continue

ABC  

The federal government has revealed it's spending an extra $1.4 billion to help healthcare providers and the aged care sector deal with the pandemic. Key points: The federal government money to manage COVID lasts until the end of this year Aged care will receive $840 million to maintain programs like on-site PCR testing and the supply of rapid antigen tests Funding will continue to go toward disability care, First Nations health services, and free GP-led specialist respiratory clinics The bulk of the funding is being directed towards aged care to maintain programs like on-site PCR testing and the supply of rapid antigen tests. "Practical measures like rapid antigen tests, PCR tests, and funding the extra staffing that aged care services have had to put on to deal with the pandemic is very welcomed," Mr Sadler said. GPs welcome continued funding Disability care and First Nations health services will continue to get money for personal protective equipment and rapid antigen tests, and $48 million has been provided to extend free GP-led specialist respiratory clinics.

Health Funding Care This Year Pcr Aged Federal Government Rapid Antigen Tests Covid Spend  measures  sector  federal  commits  outbreaks  care  covid  spend  14  funding  welcomed  support  rapid  aged  health  continue  billion

History of this topic

Aged Care Taskforce rejects tax levy and proposes funding based on personal wealth
9 months, 1 week ago

Aged Care Taskforce rejects tax levy and proposes funding based on personal wealth

ABC  

In short: A taskforce has rejected the idea of increasing taxes to fund the aged care sector. The federal government established a taskforce last year to find out how the country could properly fund aged care, following a range of recommendations made by a damning royal commission into the sector. The government currently funds 75 per cent of residential aged …

Do we simply not care about old people?
10 months, 1 week ago

Do we simply not care about old people?

Salon  

The covid-19 pandemic would be a wake-up call for America, advocates for the elderly predicted: incontrovertible proof that the nation wasn’t doing enough to care for vulnerable older adults. “I think the pandemic helped reinforce images of older people as sick, frail, and isolated — as people who aren’t like the rest of us,” he said. It’s really hard to …

As local governments spend billions in pandemic relief, some neglect to report specifics
1 year, 4 months ago

As local governments spend billions in pandemic relief, some neglect to report specifics

LA Times  

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan shortly after taking office in 2021. The city, which was devastated in 2011 by one of deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history, took a deliberate approach with its pandemic aid to develop “really transformational projects,” said Leslie Haase, Joplin’s finance director. The actual amount of spending commitments is probably well over 80% when accounting …

How raising the nation’s debt limit could reduce spending of some coronavirus relief funds
1 year, 7 months ago

How raising the nation’s debt limit could reduce spending of some coronavirus relief funds

Associated Press  

With the pandemic officially over, leftover coronavirus relief money for vaccines, public health initiatives and other programs has become a target as negotiators try to reach a budget deal to raise the nation’s debt limit. HOW MUCH IS AT STAKE The Congressional Budget Office estimates that halting the use of unobligated pandemic relief funds would result in a net spending …

Federal COVID aid OK’d to pay for roads, natural disasters
1 year, 11 months ago

Federal COVID aid OK’d to pay for roads, natural disasters

Associated Press  

— State and local governments will soon gain new flexibility to spend billions of federal coronavirus relief dollars on things not directly related to the pandemic, including new roads and bridges and aid to people affected by wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. The broadened spending authority for the previously approved pandemic aid was one of many of provisions wrapped …

Fight to end virus pandemic takes place on UN’s sidelines
2 years, 3 months ago

Fight to end virus pandemic takes place on UN’s sidelines

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — In four days of fiery speeches over war, climate change and the threat of nuclear weapons, one issue felt like an afterthought during this year’s U.N. General Assembly: the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gathered with World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and others to discuss equitable access …

GOP Senators Push Back On COVID Funds Request After Biden Says 'Pandemic Is Over'
2 years, 3 months ago

GOP Senators Push Back On COVID Funds Request After Biden Says 'Pandemic Is Over'

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Senate Republicans expressed skepticism over whether COVID-19 funding is still necessary following President Joe Biden’s recent comments declaring the end of the pandemic. “Maybe that’s his approach to it, I’d have to ask him.” Earlier this month, Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, told reporters “the pandemic is not over,” and said the administration …

Australia Defence Force COVID help in aged care needed beyond September, sector says
2 years, 4 months ago

Australia Defence Force COVID help in aged care needed beyond September, sector says

ABC  

Australia's peak body for aged care providers has flagged the sector will need help from defence personnel beyond its September extension date. Key points: Aged care facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks can receive help from the Australian Defence Force Peak body says staff shortages will likely continue beyond September A Stawell aged care facility that received support says personnel were "a …

Government to rely on antivirals to protect against winter wave of COVID in aged care, as defence support ends
2 years, 5 months ago

Government to rely on antivirals to protect against winter wave of COVID in aged care, as defence support ends

ABC  

Federal Aged Care Minister Anika Wells says the government has come up with a plan to protect aged care residents from the COVID wave set to sweep the country. Key points: More than 800 aged care homes are facing COVID outbreaks The government hopes supplies of antivirals will protect residents through winter Defence personnel will exit the sector next month …

Federal COVID-19 Relief Saved Child Care For Millions, Report Says
2 years, 9 months ago

Federal COVID-19 Relief Saved Child Care For Millions, Report Says

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING If you are in a working family and have managed to hold on to your child care during the past two years, you may have the federal government to thank, according to a new report. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images The report’s calculations draw on data from two independent groups that focus on early childhood: the National …

Impact of Covid on cancer care: Unaddressed problem and the possible solutions
2 years, 10 months ago

Impact of Covid on cancer care: Unaddressed problem and the possible solutions

Hindustan Times  

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on cancer care. A study done in England showed a substantial increase in avoidable cancer-related deaths as a result of the impact of an ongoing pandemic on cancer care. Increased incidence of advanced-stage disease and increased cancer-related mortality have been noticed in CMC Vellore, a leading cancer care centre in South India. …

National Cabinet considers how to deal with an influx of COVID-19 patients, with hospitals already straining
3 years, 3 months ago

National Cabinet considers how to deal with an influx of COVID-19 patients, with hospitals already straining

ABC  

There's something Mark McGowan would rather not talk about. Mr McGowan has conceded the system is under pressure but said "hundreds" of aged and disability care patients were occupying hospital beds because the federal government had failed to fund enough beds for them elsewhere. The Delta outbreak in New South Wales is putting enormous strain on the state's health system, …

Analysis: The pandemic may be better, but it’s not over
3 years, 5 months ago

Analysis: The pandemic may be better, but it’s not over

CNN  

CNN — Four days after President Joe Biden declared the darkest days of the pandemic over, America is facing a burst of challenges that indicate Covid-19 is far from releasing its grip. “It is hard to imagine we are going to be able to immunize 200 to 300 million people every year to this,” Dr Zeke Emanuel, a former health …

Covid impact on cancer patients
3 years, 6 months ago

Covid impact on cancer patients

India TV News  

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year and now its resurgence in the second wave we have been left unprepared in true sense to fight this biggest threat to human race in recent times. COVID and cancer In the last one year, we have seen COVID infecting mostly older age group, but now even the young and children …

Government unveils extra home care packages in $18 billion aged care royal commission response
3 years, 7 months ago

Government unveils extra home care packages in $18 billion aged care royal commission response

ABC  

Tens of thousands of additional home care packages and mandating the time staff spend with aged care residents are at the heart of the federal government's nearly $18 billion response to the damning findings from the aged care royal commission. Key points: 80,000 additional home care packages will be released Every aged care resident to receive 3 hours and 20 …

Billions spent on coronavirus fight, but what happens next?
3 years, 8 months ago

Billions spent on coronavirus fight, but what happens next?

Associated Press  

Congress has poured tens of billions of dollars into state and local public health departments in response to the coronavirus pandemic, paying for masks, contact tracers and education campaigns to persuade people to get vaccinated. Congress eventually allocated $1.1 billion for Zika, but by then, mosquito season had passed in much of the U.S. “Something happens, we throw a ton …

More retirees trying to avoid going into aged care, exclusive data from Australian Seniors reveals
3 years, 8 months ago

More retirees trying to avoid going into aged care, exclusive data from Australian Seniors reveals

ABC  

For a growing number of Australians, aged care is less desirable than ever before. Exclusive data from Australian Seniors reveals 43 per cent of Australians aged over 50 who were surveyed for the 2021 Mindset Shift Report say the pandemic has changed their view of aged care. "I do know a little about aged care, had a look at a …

US Congress seals deal to provide $900bn in COVID aid
4 years ago

US Congress seals deal to provide $900bn in COVID aid

Al Jazeera  

Long-awaited deal would give $600 direct payments to individuals and boost unemployment payments by $300 a week. The Senate’s top Republican and Democrat said on Sunday they had reached an agreement on a nearly $900bn package, a deal that would be the second-largest economic stimulus in US history, following a $2.3 trillion aid bill passed in March. “Anyone who thinks …

Older People, Some Essential Workers Should Get Vaccines Next, CDC Panel Says
4 years ago

Older People, Some Essential Workers Should Get Vaccines Next, CDC Panel Says

NPR  

Older People, Some Essential Workers Should Get Vaccines Next, CDC Panel Says Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Updated at 7:55 p.m. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices held a vote Sunday to determine the order of high-risk priority groups for Phase 1 of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, which …

Aged care sector might not be ready for more coronavirus outbreaks, Royal Melbourne Hospital doctor warns
4 years, 2 months ago

Aged care sector might not be ready for more coronavirus outbreaks, Royal Melbourne Hospital doctor warns

ABC  

A doctor who reviewed the coronavirus outbreak that forced the Royal Melbourne Hospital to close its Royal Park campus is calling for more precautions in high-risk settings, warning more needs to be done to prevent a repeat of the aged care outbreaks that left almost 650 people dead. Key points: A review found varied symptoms in aged care patients made …

NHS will need new funding deal to cope beyond coronavirus, ministers warned
4 years, 2 months ago

NHS will need new funding deal to cope beyond coronavirus, ministers warned

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Speaking at the opening of its annual conference, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris …

Elderly people and coronavirus: It’s the worst disaster of the pandemic. But WHO chief says our lack of concern shows ‘moral bankruptcy’
4 years, 3 months ago

Elderly people and coronavirus: It’s the worst disaster of the pandemic. But WHO chief says our lack of concern shows ‘moral bankruptcy’

CNN  

CNN — They are among the greatest victims of coronavirus, yet elderly people continue to be dismissed, despite growing evidence of the devastating effects the pandemic has had on them. Earlier this week, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he had heard people describing high Covid-19 death rates among older people as “fine.” “No, when the elderly are …

After declining, Covid-19 cases are rising again in US nursing homes
4 years, 4 months ago

After declining, Covid-19 cases are rising again in US nursing homes

CNN  

CNN — When Suzanne Wright got the phone call on Tuesday that her 84-year-old mother, who lives in a Florida nursing home 1,600 miles away, tested positive for Covid-19, she was a little perplexed. The nursing home had 11 case the week prior, “their first big run of cases among residents,” said Wright, adding that some staff had also tested …

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