Skip to Main content

14.74°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jul 14, 2022 6:43 PM - ANI

Millions of Australians could catch COVID-19 over coming weeks: health minister

Share On

Australia's Health Minister Mark Butler has warned that "millions" of people could get infected with coronavirus in the coming weeks amid a winter surge.

Butler recently asked the Australians to wear masks and work from home when needed to mitigate the impact of a wave of BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariant infections.

There were 316,574 active COVID-19 cases in Australia by Wednesday -- a figure Butler said could increase within weeks.

"I think this is a very concerning wave. This is the third wave just this year that Omicron has thrown at Australia," he said on the TV program Sunrise on Wednesday. "It's likely over coming weeks that some millions of Australians will catch COVID-19, some of them catching it again after perhaps having caught it earlier this year."

Butler said employers had been asked by chief health officers to think about whether their business can deal with a short period of working from home arrangements. On Thursday, Australia reported more than 35,000 new COVID-19 infections and more than 70 deaths.

Latest news

vancouver-police-officer-kal-dosanjh-charged-with-9-counts-of-fraud-theft-and-breach-of-trust

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh Charged with 9 Counts of Fraud, Theft and Breach of Trust

Vancouver Police Department officer Kalwinder “Kal” Dosanjh has been charged with nine serious offences, including fraud, theft and breach of trust, following an investigation conducted by his own department. Dosanjh is also the founder and CEO of KidsPlay Youth Foundation, a Surrey-based non-profit organization that works to keep young people away from drugs and gang involvement. Another individual, Sarbjit Singh Gill, has also been charged as a co-accused in the case. According to the B.C. Prosecution Service, the nine charges against Dosanjh relate to incidents spanning several years. T

canada-loses-42-000-jobs-in-august-as-labour-market-weakens

CanadaSep 04, 2026

Canada Loses 42,000 Jobs in August as Labour Market Weakens

Canada’s economy lost 42,000 jobs in August, dealing a setback to the recent momentum in the country’s labour market. However, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.4 per cent. The latest figures from Statistics Canada came in below economists’ expectations, with analysts forecasting a net gain of around 15,000 jobs. The public sector recorded the largest decline in employment, shedding 20,000 jobs and marking its third consecutive month of losses. Meanwhile, Canada’s manufacturing sector showed unexpected resilience despite the impact of U.S. tariffs, adding 22,000 jobs during

toronto-police-arrest-32-year-old-in-alleged-hate-motivated-attacks-targeting-sikh-men

CanadaSep 04, 2026

Toronto police arrest 32-year-old in alleged hate-motivated attacks targeting Sikh men

Toronto police have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with two alleged hate-motivated incidents involving Sikh men in downtown Toronto. According to Toronto Police Service, the incidents occurred on Aug. 29. Police allege the accused, Lakshitha Arakmullage, first targeted a Sikh man at Union Station, where he allegedly made racial remarks and threatened him with a knife. The victim was not injured, police said. About an hour later, police allege Arakmullage confronted two other Sikh men near Queen’s Quay West and Lower Spadina Avenue and made derogatory comments. Police say one of the

woman-robbed-in-vancouvers-marpole-area-police-seek-witnesses

Woman Robbed in Vancouver’s Marpole Area, Police Seek Witnesses

A woman was robbed in Vancouver’s Marpole neighbourhood, and police are asking witnesses to come forward as the investigation continues. According to police, the incident happened around 1:30 a.m. on August 27. The woman was walking along the west lane of the 8600-block of Granville Street near Southwest Marine Drive when a suspect allegedly punched her in the face, stole her purse and fled the scene. Police searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the suspect. The victim’s phone was later recovered nearby. Paramedics treated the woman at the scene for injuries to her nose.

mysterious-floating-island-spotted-on-b-c-s-williston-lake-boaters-warned-to-stay-away

Mysterious Floating Island Spotted on B.C.’s Williston Lake, Boaters Warned to Stay Away

A mysterious floating island spotted on B.C.’s Williston Lake has prompted authorities to issue a warning to boaters. According to BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer, the floating island is about one hectare in size and is covered entirely with trees and lush vegetation. It was first spotted by satellite in mid-August but later suddenly disappeared. The island was spotted again on Monday, and appears to have travelled about 30 kilometres from its previous location over the past two weeks. Gammer believes the formation is not solid land, but rather a highly unstable mass of tree roots, logs and

Related News

Nepal Floods: Death Toll Surpasses 1,000, Nearly 4,000 Still Missing

Nepal Floods: Death Toll Surpasses 1,000, Nearly 4,000 Still Missing

The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Nepal has crossed 1,000, nearly a week after a catastrophic disaster swept through parts of the Himalayan country. Rescue teams are continuing a massive search operation for thousands of people who remain missing, using heavy machinery, helicopters and excavators to reach remote and badly damaged areas. According to the latest official figures, the confirmed death toll has reached 1,003, while around 4,000 people remain missing. The missing include 590 foreign nationals from 39 countries, highlighting the international impact of the disa

Nepal-Tibet Flood Death Toll Rises to 955, Over 3,900 Still Missing

Nepal-Tibet Flood Death Toll Rises to 955, Over 3,900 Still Missing

The death toll from the devastating floods that hit Nepal and Tibet on August 26 has risen to 955. Nepal alone has reported 939 deaths, while the number of fatalities in Tibet has reached 16. More than 3,900 people are still missing. Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry said its World Meteorological Centre had sent an email to Nepal 12 days before the floods, warning of heavy rainfall, landslides and flash floods. Nepal, however, has accused China of providing forecasts for heavy rainfall but failing to share information about snowfall, water levels, landslides and other major natural hazards

Trump Warns Canada Over Venezuela Oil Deal, Signals U.S. May No Longer Need Canadian Crude

Trump Warns Canada Over Venezuela Oil Deal, Signals U.S. May No Longer Need Canadian Crude

U.S. President Donald Trump’s attacks against Canada continue, with his latest remarks focusing on a major oil deal involving Venezuela. Trump has described the agreement, involving Venezuela’s massive oil reserves, as a direct warning to Ottawa and suggested that the United States may not need Canadian crude oil in the future. Experts say the deal could create increased competition for Canadian crude in the U.S. market in the coming years. Both Canada and Venezuela are major producers of heavy crude, which is used by refineries designed to process heavier grades of oil. Trump recently sha

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital