A woman walks past Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on July 6, 2022. Australia on Friday reported more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 30 deaths.
As of Thursday afternoon, a total of 8,354,527 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 10,190 deaths, and approximately 289,053 active cases, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
There were 3,899 cases being treated in hospitals across the country on Thursday - including 140 in intensive care, which is a recent high figure. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)
CANBERRA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Researchers from Australia's national science agency have developed a faster method to identify emerging COVID-19 variants of concern.
In research published recently, a team from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) used a machine learning tool to analyze the ribonucleic acid (RNA) of a whole variant to predict how it might behave in the human body, rather than the current method of monitoring changes to the spike protein.
CSIRO scientist Denis Bauer said the research could lead to an early warning system capable of determining which variants will be deadliest to humans.
"By harnessing the capability of a powerful machine-learning tool we developed, called VariantSpark, we were able to analyze the genomes of 10,000 COVID-19 samples, which is the largest number of samples ever analyzed in this way," she said in a media release on Thursday.
"Our approach was able to identify variants that could be monitored a week before they were flagged by health organizations - and a week is a long time when you're trying to outsmart a pandemic."
The tool was programmed to provide hourly updates, providing the potential for information to be quickly shared with public health decision-makers and to prepare hospitals for increases in demand, said CSIRO.
Researchers hope this new approach will eventually be used to develop vaccines to prevent future variants and pandemics.
The research was published as Mark Butler, the federal Minister for Health, warned of an expected winter surge in cases of the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
Australia on Friday reported more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 30 deaths.
As of Thursday afternoon, a total of 8,354,527 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 10,190 deaths, and approximately 289,053 active cases, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
There were 3,899 cases being treated in hospitals across the country on Thursday - including 140 in intensive care, which is a recent high figure.
Despite hospitalizations rising, Butler on Friday ruled out a return to mask mandates, saying people must take responsibility for their own health.
"The message is 'take responsibility, make your own choice'," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
"If you're in an indoor space, you're not able to socially distance give serious consideration to wearing a mask because it will increase your protection." ■
A COVID-19 testing clinic sign is seen at a hospital in Sydney, Australia, on July 8, 2022. Australia on Friday reported more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 30 deaths.
As of Thursday afternoon, a total of 8,354,527 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 10,190 deaths, and approximately 289,053 active cases, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
There were 3,899 cases being treated in hospitals across the country on Thursday - including 140 in intensive care, which is a recent high figure. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
A hospital vehicle is seen in Sydney, Australia, on July 8, 2022. Australia on Friday reported more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 30 deaths.
As of Thursday afternoon, a total of 8,354,527 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 10,190 deaths, and approximately 289,053 active cases, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
There were 3,899 cases being treated in hospitals across the country on Thursday - including 140 in intensive care, which is a recent high figure. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
A hospital is seen in Sydney, Australia, on July 8, 2022. Australia on Friday reported more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 30 deaths.
As of Thursday afternoon, a total of 8,354,527 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 10,190 deaths, and approximately 289,053 active cases, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
There were 3,899 cases being treated in hospitals across the country on Thursday - including 140 in intensive care, which is a recent high figure. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
A hospital vehicle is seen in Sydney, Australia, on July 8, 2022. Australia on Friday reported more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 30 deaths.
As of Thursday afternoon, a total of 8,354,527 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including 10,190 deaths, and approximately 289,053 active cases, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
There were 3,899 cases being treated in hospitals across the country on Thursday - including 140 in intensive care, which is a recent high figure. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)
