iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Vic fortnightly Covid report: "In the past week, the percentage of COVID-19 tests that were positive have increased (2.5% to 3.3%)" but reported cases have dropped off. Surprising but welcome reversal of the recent trend upwards. Pity there's no wastewater data anymore for confirmation.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Vic fortnightly Covid report: "COVID-19 activity remains low; however has increased in the last three weeks." Buckle up. One swallow might not make the summer but repeated rising case levels on top of interstate rising data confirms the next wave has started. Autumn wave instead of summer though.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Vic CHO alert: more measles! Another day, another Vic CHO alert released with more measles exposure sites listed. Remember: Measles is airborne and vaccine and N95 work. Sites: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Vic fortnightly Covid report: "COVID-19 activity remains low. In recent years, Victoria has experienced a COVID-19 wave over the summer months, which has not been observed to date in 2025/26." Test positivity ticking up & reported cases are oscillating at relatively low levels, for now.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Vic Covid fortnightly update: "In Victoria, COVID-19, influenza & RSV are at high levels of activity." Covid looks like a bit of a plateau which would be good but we have such a limited view of the real picture now. Anecdotally there is a lot of pressure on the system. Flu & RSV also big problems.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Vic Covid update: "In Victoria, COVID-19 activity is at high levels, with influenza and RSV activity continuing to increase. Indicators of activity have continued to increase for COVID-19, influenza and RSV in this reporting period" Buckle up Mask Up* Ventilate HEPAs on high *N95

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Vic Covid update: Buckle up folks, it's not looking good. We are back on an upward trajectory, coupled with flu and RSV surging as well.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Vic Covid update: "In Victoria, activity of RSV, influenza and COVID-19 are increasing but remain at low levels. Meanwhile, COVID-19 activity has remained at low levels with increases in recent weeks." Trending back up again after period of relatively low activity. health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Vic CHO alert: more measles "A new measles case has been reported in Victoria in a returned traveller who visited Pakistan. There is currently an increased risk of measles in greater Melbourne." #MeaslesIsAirborne Exposure sites: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Vic fortnightly Covid update: "In Victoria, COVID-19 and influenza are at low levels of activity, whilst RSV activity is increasing but remains at low levels." Good time to get that important dental work done. Full Vic respiratory report available here: health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Vic Covid update: Vic has moved to a Respiratory Surveillance report to include flu and RSV. This is a welcome addition with more information but they have deleted the consistent metric of Covid hospitalisations. Very disappointing Vic gov. Full report here: health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

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Reposted by AndrewHewat

Mark Ungrin @mark-ungrin.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

TBH this is basically the whole thing. I could probably have just posted this one image and everyone who's paying attention would understand. Pregnant nurses were tested while wearing a spirometry mask, with or without a small piece of N95 material taped over the hole. The...tiny...little...hole.

In Phase II, the respiratory effects of wearing N95 masks were examined. Each subject underwent two 15-minute exercise cycles on a treadmill. Each subject wore a Hans Rudolph mask, similar to that in Phase I, attached to a laboratory-based metabolic cart (Cortex Metalyser 3BR2, Leipzig, Germany) in order to obtain real time respiratory parameters during exercise. In the first (control) cycle, subjects wore the Hans Rudolph mask with the outlet opened to ambient air. In the second (N95) cycle, outlets of the Hans Rudolph masks were covered by materials obtained from representative supplies of N95 masks (3M, St. Paul, MN, USA). N95-mask materials were trimmed to form an airtight seal over the Hans Rudolph mask outlet so that the air flow resistance on inspiration and expiration would come from the mask material, simulating the actual wearing of an N95 respirator (Fig. 2) This experimental design allowed each subject to act as her own control.

Tight fitting Hans Rudolph respirator masks used in Phase II. (a) Control cycles with outlet open to air, and (b) N95 cycles with outlet covered by N95 mask materials

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Reposted by AndrewHewat

Mark Ungrin @mark-ungrin.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Unfortunately, none of the authors, reviewers, funders, ethics board, editors or citing authors appear to have bothered to understand the core concepts, so it has zero real-world relevance. Preprint: osf.io/preprints/me... H/T Dr. Ruzycki, an aerosol expert who first called this out.

Fig. 1: Determination of average work intensity of Health care workers: In phase I pregnant subjects performed simulated patient care activities while breathing through a tight fitting mask with a pneumotachometer. Oxygen content was sampled at every breath and measured with a portable telemetric metabolic cart

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Vic CHO alert: measles "A new locally-acquired measles case has been identified in Victoria. This case has no history of overseas travel or links to recent measles cases, and most likely acquired their infection in the Melbourne area." Exposure sites: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Vic CHO alert: measles "A new measles case has been identified interstate who has been infectious at multiple locations around Melbourne. The case had attended a previously listed exposure site in Victoria." Measles is airborne. Full details & exposure sites: www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Vic Covid fortnightly update: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 49 (week ending 18 March), compared to 63 last week." Very welcome period of relatively low cases reaching hospital. Vic Covid test positivity continuing to stay low.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Vic avian flu update: "Diagnostic tests done at CSIRO’s Aust Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong confirmed high pathogenicity strain of H7N8. This is a new outbreak & not related to the 2024 outbreaks in Vic, NSW & ACT which were successfully eradicated" agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

How we look out for those who are struggling is a measure of society. We need to do far more to recognise, research & stop Long Covid & support those suffering from it. Today is an important day to remind us that we are all only one infection away from potentially suffering debilitating Long Covid.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Vic CHO alert: MEASLES "Five further measles cases have been identified in Victoria. Two of these cases are locally acquired and three cases acquired their infection overseas in Bali. These cases have been infectious at multiple locations around Melbourne" Details: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Vic Covid update "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has increased this week. The 7-day average is 80 (week ending 04 March), compared to 75 last week." Vic Covid hospitalisations - it appears that we are still in a trough.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Vic CHO alert: Japanese encephalitis in Victoria "A second confirmed human case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) has been identified in a resident of northern Victoria, with likely exposure in the Riverina region of New South Wales on the Murray River." Details: www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Vic CHO alert: MEASLES "An outbreak of measles has been identified in Vic after two new cases were reported who likely acquired their infection in metropolitan Melbourne. These cases have had no history of overseas travel or known contact" More details: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Vic bird flu update "H7 avian influenza (bird flu) is confirmed at a fourth poultry property in northern Victoria near Euroa. All infected properties are within the restricted area and under quarantine." Note this is a different strain to HPAI overseas. Details agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/...

agriculture.vic.gov.au

Avian influenza (bird flu)

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Vic Covid fortnightly update: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has remained stable this week. The 7-day average is 68 (week ending 18 February), compared to 67 last week." We seem to be holding in a trough for now. Let's hope it lasts for a while. But sadly #CovidIsNotOver Stay safe.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Vic CHO alert: measles (again) "A new case of measles has been reported in Victoria. This is in addition to the measles case reported on 7 February 2025." Full details of exposure sites: www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Vic CHO advisory: "Victorians planning overseas travel should ensure their routine vaccinations are up to date. Any returned traveller who develops illness after returning home (such as a fever, new rash or diarrhoea) should seek medical advice." health.vic.gov.au/health-advis...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

"Agriculture Victoria has confirmed the presence of avian influenza (high pathogenicity H7N8) at a poultry property in northern Victoria, which has now been placed into quarantine. ...different from the strains that impacted Vic poultry farms during 2024." agriculture.vic.gov.au/about/media-...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Vic Covid update "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 76 (week ending 04 February), compared to 116 last week." Definitely numbers are heading in the right direction. Let's hope for a long and low trough. Test positivity falling as well.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Vic CHO alert: measles "A new case of measles has been reported in Victoria with the total number of cases linked to travel in Vietnam since December 2024 now standing at eight. Growing outbreaks continue to be reported in Vietnam and Thailand." Exposure sites: www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Vic Covid update: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 122 (week ending 21 January), compared to 184 last week." Hospitalisations, positivity rate and reported cases continued trending lower.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Vic DH restarted Covid reporting: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has increased this week. The 7-day average is 191 (week ending 07 January), compared to 165 last week." Deaths are no longer reported-now only avail thru ABS data. Wastewater was switched off June 2024. Happy new year.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Vic CHO alert: Buruli Ulcer is spreading "Patients usually develop a painless lump or wound which can initially be mistaken for an insect bite. Over time the lesion can slowly progress to develop into a destructive skin ulcer which is known as Buruli ulcer." www.health.vic.gov.au/health-advis...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Vic Covid update: (A week early due to break & next update will be 10Jan25) "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 151 (week ending 17 December), compared to 160 last week." Numbers fairly stable but hold your beer with xmas travel starting.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Vic CHO alert: MEASLES "A new case of measles has been reported in Queensland, involving a returned overseas traveller who transited through Melbourne Airport whilst infectious. This is in addition to a Victorian case reported in early December 2024" More details: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Vic Covid update: "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has decreased this week. The 7-day average is 160 (week ending 10 December), compared to 196 last week." Good to see a drop in hospital numbers & positivity rate but don't let your guard down - still significantly high. Stay safe.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Vic CHO Alert: MEASLES warning "A new case of measles has been reported in Victoria in a returned overseas traveller. See the full alert for exposure site details of this case." Full details here: health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Vic CHO Alert: "Victoria is currently experiencing increased COVID-19 infections in the community, which is resulting in an increase of people being hospitalised with COVID-19." www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alert...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Chatting with teacher friend: Me: You know we're in a new Covid wave, right? Friend: No but there's so much gastro at school. One parent dropped their kid off who was vomiting. The teacher got sick & also missed her mum's 80th birthday. What are they thinking? Me: They're not.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

As AUS enters a new wave (you know, another of those xmas presents from Prof Kelly), just reminding people that this will be the 11th Covid wave in AUS, regardless of what media (if any) reports. Ok I know wave 1 looks insignificant, but that's only because of the overwhelming waves ever since.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

PSA ALERT: major metro hospital in Melbourne triggered escalation of COVID settings back to highest level today. Outbreaks of Covid in wards & community led to upgrade of mask requirements. Also high levels of gastro. Masks back on again but only after infecting staff & patients. Complete PH failure

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Vic Covid update: After 1 month hiatus in reporting there's no surprise that numbers are going up, reflecting recent anecdata. "The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has increased this week. The 7-day average is 173 (week ending 12 November), compared to 112 last week."

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Spending time in the bush can be cathartic and clears the news cycle from your head. Loved seeing this little fellow today. Totally oblivious to the US election disaster.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

This is really distressing to watch but if you've never heard a baby try to breathe with whooping cough then you should listen. Be warned. There is a vaccine for whooping cough (pertussis), so if you can, please access it.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

Covid is definitely not over. Govts can hide the data as much as they like but the actuaries will always find the facts. And it is not good news for anyone.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 02/11/2024

The price of austerity measures in health care.👇 Ultimately someone pays and most often it's the patients. HCWs also end up suffering increased/unsafe workloads.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 28/10/2024

Despite being >60yrs of age, I still like to run long trails. I can only do this if I stay healthy. Saturday I ran the 100km Great Ocean Trail Ultra. But I still wore a mask riding the bus back to the start the next day. Nothing wrong with being the only MaskFreak if it helps keep me fit & healthy.

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Reposted by AndrewHewat

Denis - The COVID Info Guy @thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social · 24/10/2024

"The future of the Australian Centre for Disease Control is under a cloud after its interim head, chief medical officer Paul Kelly, retired and with no funding allocated to deliver it." Source: canberratimes.com.au/story/880020...

Australian Centre for Disease control under a cloud as election approaches
By Dana Daniel October 24 2024 - 5:30am
The future of the Australian Centre for Disease Control is under a cloud after its interim head, chief medical officer Paul Kelly, retired and with no funding allocated to deliver it.
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock said it was "really disappointing that six months out from the next election, the Albanese government still hasn't made any concrete progress on delivering the promised National CDC."
"I've been pushing for the CDC to be located in Canberra, potentially as an anchor tenant at the new precision health precinct the ANU has proposed," Senator Pocock told The Canberra Times.

"This would have enormous spin-off benefits for the people of the ACT and our struggling healthcare system, including the recruitment of some desperately needed specialists."
Canberra is seen by public health groups as being the ideal location for a hub-and-spoke model of a CDC connected to all states and territories, without favouring one jurisdiction.
Helen Grinbergs, First Assistant Secretary of the CDC Establishment Taskforce, last month told the Australian Public Health Conference the standalone body was "dependent on the passage of legislation".
She said the government would make its final decision on the "scope and functions of the CDC" after receiving the report of the independent COVID-19 inquiry, which is due this Friday.
"We're coming up to that crunch point," she said.
A key Albanese government election promise, the CDC has the backing of public health advocates within and outside of Parliament, including Health Minister Mark Butler.
It would respond to and prepare for public health emergencies, after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed shortcomings in Australia's public health response - including a lack of data connectivity.
But with no funding beyond next June and legislation needed to set it up unlikely to be passed this year, hopes are fading that Mr Albanese will deliver on his promise to establish a CDC in his first term of government.

Ms Wood takes on the role after serving as First Assistant Secretary, Health System Strategy.
She has a background in policy and government relations, whereas Professor Kelly is a trained public health physician and epidemiologist who helped steer Australia through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Health Department would not say whether the new CMO would be tasked with heading the interim CDC.
Backbencher Mike Freelander, a Western Sydney MP and paediatrician who is co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Preventative and Public Health, said a CDC "has the potential to transform healthcare in Australia".
"It would seem sensible to have a central hub and to make sure it includes all the state and territory health departments," Dr Freelander told this masthead.
Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases President Joseph Doyle said the threat of pandemics was ongoing and there were other health challenges "that urgently need national leadership" from a CDC.
"We urgently need an established CDC with secure resources and clear governance," Professor Doyle said.
"It needs to be well resourced, science-led and accountable to best protect Australians from new and emerging health threats including avian influenza and mpox."
Associate Professor Slevin said that the government needed to learn from COVID-19 and establish a national body to help protect future generations.
"Australia is the only country in the OECD who doesn't have a Centre for Disease Control," he said.
Ministers say 'work is under way', no word on funding
Health Minister Mark Butler said the interim CDC was "already significantly strengthening Australia's preparedness for future pandemics".
It had "built-up Australia's surveillance capabilities, improved Australia's use of data, and has taken a One Health and 'all hazards' approach," he said, putting Australia "on a much stronger footing to respond to future public health threats such as pandemics".
"Work is underway to establish the stand-alone Australian CDC,"

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 21/10/2024

In case you missed it, Mpox numbers are steadily growing in Vic. Still only Clade IIb, but over 300 cases since April and now including women. More details: www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-d...

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 21/10/2024

PSA aimed at Vic HCWs but important health alert: •Mpox cases are continuing to increase in Melbourne and regional Victoria. •Have a low threshold for testing sexually active people with any symptoms. •Promote vaccination in all eligible people at risk of mpox infection.

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AndrewHewat @andrewhewat.bsky.social · 20/10/2024

Early days but.... Just plugged my Aranet4 into Bluesky to compare with the air quality over on twitter and wow, so much cleaner air over here.

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