With news that Greater Sydney's lockdown has been extended until July 17, the NSW Chief Health Officer has today announced that this latest COVID-19 outbreak should be considered a "wake up call" for Australia's youth.
Of 37 NSW COVID patients currently in hospital, 14 are under 55yo and eight are under 35. One patient in ICU is in their 30s. “A bit of a wake-up call,” says CHO Kerry Chant. #auspol @10NewsFirst
Dr Kerry Chant says that, of the 37 people who have been hospitalised during the outbreak, eight of those are under the age of 35 — including one in intensive care.
"The fact that 37 patients have been admitted to hospital should indicate to the community the fact that Covid...is not a mild disease. Of the seven people in ICU, one is in their 30s — a bit of a wake-up call to young people."
Now, if we are to assume that "young people" refers to Aussies under the age of 40, it seems likely that this comment is aimed squarely at the only portion of Australia's population who is currently ineligible for the vaccine.
But given the fact that Aussies under 40 aren't likely to be widely eligible for vaccinations until "September or October" this year, Australia's youth have called bullshit on the Chief Health Officer's comments — labelling them as "alarmist" and "insulting":
NSW's Kerry Chant says 8 people in hospital being under 35, should be a "wakeup call to young people" that COVID isn't just a virus of the elderly maybe it could also be a "wake-up call" to older people deciding not get a vaccine now because they're "waiting" for different ones
@JoshButler I’m sorry, but young folks still don’t have access to vaccinations, how is this a wake up call for young folks? It should be a wake up call for the fucking government to hurry up & vaccinate us all.
@JoshButler "Wake-up call for young people" (cue crazy laughter) How about a wake-up call to a govt that dragged their feet on mandating masks... & on mandating a lockdown... WHEN THEY KNEW ALL ALONG HOW DANGEROUS THIS STRAIN WAS Gladys downplayed the risks to try & save face 🤬🤬🤬
@Jo_Tovey Not enjoying my age group being given a "wake-up call" when many would like to be vaxxed but can't be
So there's a 30-something in ICU in NSW but this age group still has very limited access to vaccines (my GP did not want to give me the AZ last week). This vaccine rollout, my god.
@hughriminton @10NewsFirst how fucking insulting to call it a "wake up call" when most under 40s aren't eligible for vaccines yet.
@JoshButler The young people don’t need a wake up call, they need vaccinations.
@JoshButler Young people have already woken up. We’ve been doing this for over a year. We know how deadly this can be. WE DON’T NEED A WAKE UP CALL, WE NEED VACCINATIONS!
Wake up call for young people? Hasn’t there been an influx by young people for the AZ vaccine since the PM opened it up to under 40 - I enquired a day later and had my first shot within a week. https://t.co/L47DVHSk1n
@Dean_Nye Probably a bit alarmist. The global data shows a small amount of young people have died from covid but almost all have had pre-existing conditions. That being said, I want to get the vaccine asap to protect the venerable.