Latest / NewsCard® Australia Daily News / COVID-19 Resurgence, Record Flu Cases, Australia's Pacific Appointment
Transcript
- [warm] This is NewsCard Daily for Sunday, November 30, 2025... your briefing on the stories from Australia and around the world. — — [serious] We begin with a health alert as Australians head into the summer season. COVID-19 is quietly making a comeback across the country, and experts warn we should stay prepared. Paul Griffin, an infectious disease physician from the University of Queensland, says another wave is likely in the not-too-distant future. While recent COVID surges have been less severe than previous ones... transmission patterns from the northern hemisphere suggest we'll see increased cases here as well. The good news... ICU admissions have dropped significantly compared to earlier years. But experts urge Australians not to get complacent. If you're unwell this Christmas with family gathering across generations, staying home is the best gift you can give them. — — [urgent] But there's another respiratory threat demanding attention right now. Flu cases in Australia have hit record levels this year... and we're still in November. More than 456,000 Australians have already been diagnosed with influenza, with experts predicting we could surpass 500,000 cases before year's end. What's unusual... we're seeing high flu numbers well past the peak season we'd normally expect. Influenza A is driving most cases. And there's a concerning vaccination gap... only 25 percent of children aged six months to five years have received their flu shots... the lowest rate since 2021. Health authorities are urging families to catch up on vaccinations before the holidays arrive. — — [warm] In diplomatic news, Australia is strengthening its Pacific presence. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has appointed Megan Bainbridge as Australia's next Consul-General in Noumea. Bainbridge is a seasoned career diplomat who's previously served in Lebanon and Afghanistan... and she speaks both French and Arabic. In this role, she'll also represent Australia at the Pacific Community... the region's largest scientific and technical organisation. The appointment underscores Australia's commitment to stability and prosperity across the Pacific Islands Forum as we navigate our evolving relationship with New Caledonia. — — [warm] That's your NewsCard Daily. For more top stories and quick summaries that keep you informed in just minutes, check out the NewsCard app... available in the App Store.