Disease rates in Australia have more than halved in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions
There were 52% fewer disease notifications in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.
Disease rates in Australia have more than halved in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions, according to an analysis by Finder. There were 52% fewer disease notifications in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.
Reported rates of diseases dropped from 597,066 to 287,981 in 12 months – even when factoring in the 28,641 cases of COVID-19 last year.
Some diseases, including influenza, have dropped by as much as 93% between 2019 and 2020. Measles (down 91%), dengue virus infection (down 85%), rotavirus (down 73%) and pertussis/whooping cough (down 71%) have also experienced dramatic reductions.
Taylor Blackburn is a multi-award-winning communications specialist with a focus on personal finance and insurance. As Finder’s Head of PR, he regularly appears on major national TV programs like Sunrise, Today, and A Current Affair, and is frequently quoted in prominent outlets like the AFR and The Daily Telegraph. Taylor holds a Master of Arts in Public Relations from the University of the Pacific. See full bio
Taylor's expertise
Taylor has written 255 Finder guides across topics including:
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