Residents queue up outside a pharmacy for a COVID-19 vaccination in western Sydney, Australia, on July 30, 2021.
(SAEED KHAN / AFP)
CANBERRA / KUALA LUMPUR – COVID-19 is placing a major strain on Australia's workforce, government data has revealed.
According to Department of Treasury figures released on Friday, approximately 31,000 Australians missed work every day because of lasting coronavirus symptoms.
As of Friday afternoon, a total of 9,976,582 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 13,648 deaths and approximately 131,609 active cases, according to the latest data from the Department of Health
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the lasting effects of COVID-19 were having a major impact on Australia's economy, promising that the government's Jobs and Skills Summit, which will open on Thursday, will help address the issue.
"Our labor market has been absolutely smashed by COVID, and by long-COVID recently," he told reporters on Friday.
Regarding the jobs summit next week in Canberra, he said the government is motivated by two things: creating more opportunities for more people, and bringing people together "around these big economic challenges."
ALSO READ: COVID: Abbas declares 30-day state of emergency in West Bank
There have been more than 9 million confirmed COVID-19 infections in Australia since the start of the pandemic, and some experts have estimated that five percent of the cases could suffer from long COVID-19.
Australia on Friday reported more than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 50 deaths.
As of Friday afternoon, a total of 9,976,582 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 13,648 deaths and approximately 131,609 active cases, according to the latest data from the Department of Health.
There were 3,054 cases currently being treated in Australian hospitals including 90 in intensive care units.
Malaysia
Malaysia reported 3,118 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Friday, bringing the national total to 4,771,512, according to the health ministry.
There are seven new imported cases, with 3,111 cases being local transmissions, data released on the ministry's website showed.
Another six deaths have been reported, pushing the death toll to 36,191.
Women wear facemasks amid fears of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus in the Orchard Road shopping district in Singapore on March 10, 2020. (LOUIS KWOK / AFP)
Singapore
Singapore reported 2,132 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total tally to 1,829,361.
Of the new cases, 268 cases were detected through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests and 1,864 through ART (antigen rapid test) tests, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.
Among the PCR cases, 249 were local transmissions and 19 were imported cases. Among the ART cases with mild symptoms and assessed to be of low risk, there were 1,775 local transmissions and 89 imported cases.
A total of 283 cases are currently warded in hospitals, with six cases held in intensive care units.
One more death was reported from COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total death toll to 1,588, the ministry said.