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Extraordinary cost of Delta Goodrem's engagement ring revealed

<p>A jewellery specialist has revealed the extraordinary cost of Delta Goodrem's stunning diamond engagement ring. </p> <p>The Aussie pop princess <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/delta-goodrem-is-engaged" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced her engagement</a> to her partner, Matthew Copley, in a heartfelt Instagram post last week, as her partner asked the big question while they were on holiday in Malta.</p> <p>Now, a jewellery specialist at UK retailer Steven Stone has shared the estimated cost of the impressive ring. </p> <p>Zack Stone told the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12554633/Delta-Goodrem-diamond-ring-engagement.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail</em></a> that the sparkling diamond ring is worth about $123,000.</p> <p>He said the three carat round cut diamond in a solitaire setting is "timeless" and is "believed to signal everlasting love and eternity".</p> <p>"The diamond is sat in a solitaire setting, which is a timeless choice for those in search of a style that will always be on trend," Stone said.</p> <p>"The timeless diamond is sat on a pave diamond band, which means that the shank of the ring is lined with small diamond that give it that extra element of radiance."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxcsmWPhGaF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxcsmWPhGaF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Delta delighted fans with the engagement announcement, as she shared the heart-warming post to Instagram.</p> <p>With the sun setting in the background, the couple embraced each other while holding glasses filled with sparkling bubbles, with Delta captioning the image, “My best friend asked me to marry him.”</p> <p>The subsequent slide featured a video capturing a live musical performance in what appeared to be a secluded grassy area, adorned with a sea of white rose petals.</p> <p>As the video unfolded, viewers were treated to a glimpse of Delta Goodrem's stunning engagement ring.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Delta Goodrem is engaged!

<p>Delta Goodrem had some thrilling news to share with her partner, Matthew Copley, in a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday.</p> <p>In a picturesque Instagram post taken during their holiday in Malta, the talented singer joyfully announced that Copley had asked for her hand in marriage. With the sun setting in the background, the couple embraced each other while holding glasses filled with sparkling bubbles, with Delta captioning the image: “My best friend asked me to marry him.”</p> <p>The subsequent slide featured a video capturing a live musical performance in what appeared to be a secluded grassy area, adorned with a sea of white rose petals. As the video unfolded, viewers were treated to a glimpse of Delta Goodrem's stunning engagement ring, which glittered in the romantic setting.</p> <p>The news of their engagement prompted an outpouring of congratulations from friends and well-wishers. Former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop exclaimed, "How wonderful!" while Lisa Origliasso of The Veronicas commented, "Congratulations beautiful souls. Soooo happy for you. Xxxxxxx so much love."</p> <p>SuperWAG Bec Judd added her congratulations with, "Congratulations gorge x," and the list of well-wishers included Sophie Monk, Domenica Calarco, Amy Shark, and many more.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxcsmWPhGaF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxcsmWPhGaF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Goodrem has reportedly been in a relationship with fellow musician Matthew Copley since late 2017. She had previously chosen to keep her love life private, as she revealed to <em>Instyle Australia</em> in 2018. She explained, "I made a choice that I'm not even going to comment 'yes' or 'no'... I've said nothing for three or four years."</p> <p>She went on to describe their connection, saying, "He's my guitarist, I met him through music. It's incredible to be on stage with him because he's so talented. We really are a team. He's my best friend, he's kind and just a beautiful human being. I'm very lucky. It's all very natural and I think that comes from a beautiful respect and love. I feel so grateful."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

"I stand here with you as a survivor": Delta Goodrem's emotional tribute

<p>Delta Goodrem recently looked back on the 20th anniversary of the day she received a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma at the tender age of just 18.</p> <p>In a touching Instagram post, she revisited photographs and videos from that period, recalling the memories as vividly as if they had happened just yesterday.</p> <p>The songstress reminisced about the time when she was on the verge of making her international debut, only to be confronted with the life-altering news.</p> <p>At the time of her diagnosis, her debut album "Innocent Eyes" had reached the number one spot on the ARIA charts and was steadily climbing the charts in Europe.</p> <p>However, her dreams of global success were abruptly interrupted by the revelation that she had Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer that affects the immune system.</p> <p>"July 8, 2003. I remember that day so clearly and all the mixed emotions that came with the news of being diagnosed with cancer while my album had been sitting at #1 for three months prior, and the third single hit #1 the same day," she wrote in her Instagram caption.</p> <p>"I was meant to be going over to Europe where my album had just debuted at #2 and #1 in all different countries that week to start international promo. One split second and all the plans had changed. That's life."</p> <p>Instead of embarking on her planned promotional tour in Europe, Goodrem swiftly underwent treatment for her cancer. However, she has no regrets about the turn of events, believing that everything happens for a reason.</p> <p>"There is meaning and beauty in facing these challenges from a different viewpoint. There must be a reason this is happening – How can I come out better? What is the lesson?" she expressed.</p> <p>Fortunately, in December 2003, Goodrem announced that her Hodgkin's lymphoma had gone into remission. Now, she views this as a "beautiful full circle moment" and the beginning of a "brand new chapter."</p> <p>"As I type this in London, I am working on the @deltagoodremfoundation's first-ever Gala event," she continued in her post. "I was working on new music and shows all day yesterday. Today, we're throwing a new music party. Being back here after 20 years, on the same date, has been one of the most incredible and meaningful experiences."</p> <p>While "honouring the journey" that led her to this point, Goodrem emphasises that it is the next steps that truly matter.</p> <p>"For those in the fight you are never alone and I stand here with you as a survivor xx.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CubqroeIv0w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CubqroeIv0w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Delta Goodrem raves over Jackie O’s dramatic weight loss

<p dir="ltr">Delta Goodrem has shared her support for Jackie O after the radio host posted a sweet selfie with her mum, Julie and daughter Kitty over the Easter break.</p> <p dir="ltr">The radio host took to Instagram to share photos of her with her daughter and mum enjoying a meal at Mr Wong, a Cantonese restaurant in Sydney.</p> <p dir="ltr">“💕beautiful x,” Goodrem praised Jackie O’s new look.</p> <p dir="ltr">Jackie O rocked her new physique in a white dress with puffy sleeves, following her impressive 12kg weight loss over the holiday season.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many others followed suit, and complimented the radio host.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Absolutely gorgeous girls,” wrote TV Personality Sophie Monk.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Gorgeous photos. Kitty looks like her mum,” complimented Aussie actress and musician Danielle Spencer.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqu6krupCIa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqu6krupCIa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jackie O (@jackieo_official)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Beautiful ❤️❤️❤️” commented former Studio 10 co-host, Jessica Rowe.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans have also complimented Jackie O’s new look.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nice to see mum joining you, Kitty is becoming such a beautiful image of mum so well done mum,” wrote one fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Jackie, you look 20 years old,” complimented another.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Body

"So upset": Delta Goodrem's sad health announcement

<p>Delta Goodrem has been forced to postpone her upcoming Innocent Eyes tour, after she has been placed on "strict vocal rest". </p> <p>The Aussie songstress is reportedly "so upset" about he decision to postpone the UK and Europe leg of the tour, according to Nine's entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins. </p> <p>"She's OK, but she's upset, as you would be," Wilkins said as he broke the news on <em>Today Extra</em>.</p> <p>"She's been so looking forward to this," he added. "It's the 20th anniversary of Innocent Eyes, the [album] tour that took her all around the world."</p> <p>Goodrem also shared the news to her fans on Instagram, as she wrote out an apology on a whiteboard while she sat at a piano. </p> <p>She then shared a more lengthy message explaining the situation in depth, telling her fans that her busy schedule has proved to be too much on her vocal cords.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIC8UiuYkq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIC8UiuYkq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"It hurts my heart to have to share with you that we've had to make the difficult decision to reschedule my upcoming UK & European shows," the star wrote.</p> <p>"I am feeling so grateful to be this busy at this moment of my career, but from overextending myself on a number of projects, including preparing new music for you all, I have unfortunately overused my vocal cords to the point of me having no voice for extended periods of time," she added.</p> <p>On <em>Today Extra</em>, Wilkins added that cancelling a show is something that "every artist hates", but "for Delta, this is such a big thing."</p> <p>"She's so resilient, she's had problems before but she needs to do this," Wilkins said.</p> <p>The "problem" Wilkins is referring to is when Delta battled cancer in the early years of her career, after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma when she was just 18-years-old in 2003.</p> <p>At the time, Goodrem had just released her debut album <em>Innocent Eyes</em>, but was forced to spend her time undergoing chemotherapy treatment and radiation rather than on tour. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

Airline sends woman 13 brand new suitcases as compensation

<p dir="ltr">A woman has been left shocked and confused after being sent 13 brand new suitcases as compensation. </p> <p dir="ltr">Giséle Rochefort was flying with Delta Airlines in the US when her luggage was badly damaged on her flight. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Delta destroyed my suitcase. I filed a claim, they agreed to replace it," Rochefort explained in a now-viral TikTok video.</p> <p dir="ltr">Giséle’s suitcase had some of the fabric ripped off the cover, while one of the wheels had been completely knocked off. </p> <p dir="ltr">Soon after filing her claim with the airline, Rochefort received a notification that she had been issued a replacement for her luggage and it was ready to be picked up.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, she was greeted with 13 boxes, each one containing a new suitcase in varying sizes and designs: all the same brand of her destroyed luggage. </p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7205751910886837547&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40gisele_rochefort%2Fvideo%2F7205751910886837547%3Fq%3DGis%25C3%25A9le%2520Rochefort%26t%3D1678421013573&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F0c0dca39b4c14fafa59759c9312e38ad%3Fx-expires%3D1678442400%26x-signature%3DnoEZd10erItVG8BuGildr1uEaAk%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p dir="ltr">"I was crying laughing, It felt like an April Fools' prank. I thought I was done, only to realise 3 of the large bags had small ones inside them," she added in the comments section of her video.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I think they made a mistake," she added.</p> <p dir="ltr"> Rochefort said the bags, which retail for as much as $300 (AUD) each, are currently stacked up on a wall at her home.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's called interior design sweetie, look it up," she joked, adding, "Thanks Delta!"</p> <p dir="ltr">Her video has been viewed one million times, with many of her followers wondering how they can get their hands on such a haul.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I think I know what everyone is getting for their bday or the holidays," one commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Keep two and sell the rest," another suggested.</p> <p dir="ltr">"And here's an extra 12 Incase we break anymore," another joked.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-360681aa-7fff-03bc-3e7a-bc44225a1ae4" style="caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;"></span></p>

Travel Tips

Delta Goodrem’s childhood home up for grabs

<p>Australian singer songwriter Delta Goodrem’s childhood home is set to go under the hammer with a $4m price tag. </p> <p>Lea Goodrem, Delta’s mother, reached the difficult decision to sell after 38 years in the 5-bedroom property in Sydney’s Hills District. As she told <em>News Corp</em>, the family had shared many happy memories in the Glenhaven home - with both Delta and her brother Trent spending their childhoods there - but that the time had come for her to move on. </p> <p>“I’m not 21 anymore,” she pointed out. “It’s been a beautiful house, such a wonderful home, full of laughter and such fantastic memories that I will always cherish. But it’s just me and the animals now. </p> <p>“It’s time for another big family to enjoy it and all its benefits. It’s been such an incredible place to live and we are very grateful to have called this our home for so long.”</p> <p>Lea hopes to travel before she settles down again, probably downsizing in comparison to her current abode.</p> <p>“I’m sure I will miss it,” she confessed, “but it’s time for another family to enjoy it, for this house to be filled with joy and laughter again. It’s the perfect sanctuary.”</p> <p>“I hope whoever buys it will love it as much as we have. But I’m not getting any younger. I need something more manageable. It’s a bittersweet decision. But the kids understand, it’s time to move on.”</p> <p>Louis Carr’s Michael Robert, the agent bringing the property to market, agreed with its potential for the next big family, noting that the home has “everything a family needs, including a tennis court and pool in a quiet bush location which is close to shops and schools.” </p> <p>From its modern architecture to its innovative designs, tennis court, paved courtyard, vaulted ceilings, and indoor spa, its next owners are in for a treat. Granted, of course, that they have a space four million dollars lying around. </p> <p>The home, situated on Delavor Place, raised more than just the Goodrem children. It also supported and nurtured budding star Delta’s career, with the singer penning her 2003 debut album Innocent Eyes and the hit track ‘Born to Try’.</p> <p>“It was a home that was filled with music, lots of exciting things were happening,” Lea Goodrem explained.</p> <p>“The home is an oasis,” she added, “we had two baby grand pianos and the music could be belted out without fear of retribution by the neighbours. There was a lot of inspiration here, a lot of music. ‘Born to Try’ was written in the loungeroom. This is where it all happened.”</p> <p><em>Images: Realestate.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

Health experts warn workers to stay home amid Covid “variant soup” wave

<p dir="ltr">Health experts are warning people to work from home when they can, as the latest Covid wave is expected to peak before Christmas.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since October, cases have steadily been on the rise in Victoria and New South Wales, following a new “variant soup”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Last week, NSW Health changed its Covid-19 risk rating from green to amber, as cases in NSW and Victoria have doubled in just a fortnight.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hassan Vally, an Associate Professor in Epidemiology at Deakin University, said on Monday that new variants XBB and BQ.1 were driving case numbers as they became more dominant.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also said that the new variants were less severe, but more infectious.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We also know these variants don’t seem to be increasing in virulence … The evidence seems to point to they’re inherently less virulent,” he said during an Australian Science Media Centre briefing.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Vally said the current wave was expected to make a sharp increase before a sharp decrease by the end of the year, as he urged people to take “preventative measures” to avoid getting sick.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Each wave seems to be having less impact,” Dr Vally said.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the threat posed by Covid wasn’t over, but emphasised we had entered a stage of living alongside the virus.</p> <p dir="ltr">Last week, health authorities recommended that residents of NSW wear masks indoors and on public transport if social distancing wasn’t available.</p> <p dir="ltr">NSW residents will also now have to wear masks in all areas of hospitals.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the week ending November 17, there were 27,869 people across NSW infected with Covid-19.</p> <p dir="ltr">Health authorities in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT have issued similar warnings, strongly recommending a return to wearing masks in public indoor areas and on public transport, but have shied away from reintroducing mandates.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Vally said people who were in a position to work from home should do so when they can.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Maybe this is a point also where people, where they have the flexibility, should work from home a little bit more than what may become normal,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"> </p>

News

Aussies warned of “nightmare variant”

<p dir="ltr">NSW’s chief health officer Kerry Chant has warned that Australia is on the brink of another Covid wave.</p> <p dir="ltr">The health official said that sub-variants BQ. 1 and XBB are well on the way of becoming the dominant strain over BA.5 in Australia</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Chant said the XBB strain, which recently emerged in Singapore, is ripping through the nation at an alarming rate. </p> <p dir="ltr">Some international experts have described the XBB strain as the “nightmare variant” and the “most vaccine-resistant yet”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We're starting to see an increase in Covid-19 cases and changes in the variants circulating in NSW, which tells us that we're entering the next Covid wave,” Dr Chant said in a video.</p> <p dir="ltr">“By looking at all the local information we have, and what's happening overseas, we believe Covid cases will rise in the coming weeks.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She asked Aussies to keep up to date with their vaccinations to ensure the protection of the vulnerable.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The protection the NSW community has from vaccination and previous infection continues to reduce the risk of severe illness,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“However the elderly and those with underlying health conditions continue to be at risk.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: ABC</em></p>

Body

“Insensitive idiots”: Channel 7 slammed for airing unauthorised Newton-John biopic

<p dir="ltr">Channel Seven has come under fire from fans for airing <em>Hopelessly Devoted To You</em>, an unauthorised Olivia Newton-John biopic the same day the iconic actress and singer passed away.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 2018 miniseries, starring Delta Goodrem as a young Olivia, hit a sour note for fans grieving on Tuesday night, with many taking to social media to share their thoughts.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We should be honouring Olivia, not have this horrible wood duck imitation on,” one fan tweeted. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Why am I watching Delta Goodrem play Olivia Newton-John on TV and not... I don't know, Olivia Newton-John? 😭” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Australia doesn’t want to see Delta Goodrem as Olivia, you insensitive idiots,” one quipped, before adding, “We want to see original music featuring Olivia.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“In the haste to put something on tonight Olivia Newton-John related, Channel 7 miss the mark with Olivia biopic starring Delta Goodrem,” a third <a href="https://twitter.com/Ancray/status/1556972888728928256" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’d rather watch something ACTUALLY starring Olivia, not someone pretending to be her!”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-705a392e-7fff-3098-0a57-6e9b387c7c26"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">To make matters worse, some savvy users pointed out that one media outlet used a photo of Goodrem as Olivia in their post breaking the news of Newton-John’s death.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">not popcrave using a pic of delta goodrem 😭 <a href="https://t.co/FwfKCaFlPN">pic.twitter.com/FwfKCaFlPN</a></p> <p>— David Mack (@davidmackau) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidmackau/status/1556726103246602240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The post has since been deleted and the outlet reshared the news with two photos of Newton-John.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes after Goodrem paid tribute to Newton-John, describing her as a mentor, friend, and inspiration in a heartfelt Instagram post.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-9af153f3-7fff-67d2-a732-017e50e42ca3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“The whole world will feel this heartbreak today because the entire world felt Olivia’s unmatched light,” she wrote, sharing two black-and-white photos of the pair.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChA2VU4P0mF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChA2VU4P0mF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“A force for good. A force for nature. Strong and kind, my mentor, my friend, my inspiration, someone who always guided me… she was always there for me. Family to me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t have all the words I would like to say today but I hope everyone will join in celebrating our beloved Olivia, her heart, soul, talent, courage, grace… I love you forever.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c3e2f14-7fff-81eb-95f1-397e6597e870"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Lifetime</em></p>

What a wonderful tribute: Goldie Hawn's incredible Olivia moment

<p dir="ltr">The devastating death of Dame Olivia Newton-John has rocked the world as many sent their condolences to her family.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Grease </em>star “passed away peacefully” at the age of 73 at her Ranch in Southern California surrounded by family.</p> <p dir="ltr">While Olivia’s family has been awash in an outpouring of love, support and shared grief, few tributes produced full-body goosebumps quite like the one shared by the normally highly private and reticent Goldie Hawn.</p> <p dir="ltr">Goldie took to Instagram to share a beautiful musical line-up that featured Olivia, Lily Tomlin, Cher, Bette Midler, Meryl Streep and of course, herself.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A light landed on this planet 73 years ago,” Goldie’s caption read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her voice brought us to such joyous heights, nothing held her back, nothing. Her mind was strong and heroic.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olivia’s light will continue to shine and will never flicker. Never.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Rest sweetheart. Rest peacefully, you are Love.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChBOOyzpCRq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChBOOyzpCRq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Goldie Hawn (@goldiehawn)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The clip from 1990 shows the women gathered on stage taking turns to sing verses from Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World.</p> <p dir="ltr">A young Olivia appears in a stunning red dress and gold locks as she smashes her verse to a rapturous crowd.</p> <p dir="ltr">This beautiful dedication to Olivia is not the only one that has emerged, with an interview from just two years prior in 2020 re-surfacing to great delight.</p> <p dir="ltr">Olivia was being interviewed on The Project by Lisa Wilkinson about her journey with breast cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have to ask on behalf of everyone in Australia who loves and adores you and has done for decades, how is your health?” Lisa asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">A jubilant Olivia smiled at the audience, put her hands up in the air and said “Fantastic!”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Olivia Newton-John joined us on The Project in 2020 alongside her daughter Chloe Rose Lattanzi.<br />⁰<br />She told us all about the big thing she believed in that kept her going throughout her cancer battle.<br />⁰<br />Everyone should remember this. <a href="https://t.co/0zndiMerbr">pic.twitter.com/0zndiMerbr</a></p> <p>— The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1556779992369053701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I’m doing really well, thank you, and thank you for all your love and support, I really appreciate it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I believe your belief system is part of the healing. All I can know is that my last MRI, things are shrinking, going away or staying the same, and I’m living with it and feeling great.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fellow Australian Kylie Minogue also offered a heartfelt tribute to the singer and actress by sharing a throwback photo of the pair in 1988.</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo was a black and white image of Kylie and Olivia standing together at the Royal Bicentennial Concert.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Since I was ten years old, I have loved and looked up to Olivia Newton John. And, I always will. (Just like this picture @nfsaonline),” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She was, and always will be, an inspiration to me in so many, many ways. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. x ONJ4EVER @therealonj.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChA8Yvltrdd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChA8Yvltrdd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Delta Goodrem also offered her condolences to her “friend and mentor” with a beautiful photo of the pair hugging.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The whole world will feel this heartbreak today because the entire world felt Olivia’s unmatched light,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A force for good. A force of nature. Strong and kind. my mentor, my friend, my inspiration, someone who always guided me…she was always there for me. Family to me.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t have all the words I would like to say today but I hope everyone will join in celebrating our beloved Olivia, her heart, soul, talent, courage, grace…</p> <p dir="ltr">“I love you forever.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChA2VU4P0mF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ChA2VU4P0mF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Olivia’s husband <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced the awful news</a> on Instagram via his late wife’s account asking for privacy as they mourn her death.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Could I have had COVID and not realised it?

<p>It seems not a day goes by without learning someone in our inner circle of family, friends and colleagues has COVID. When we ask how unwell our acquaintance is, the responses vary from “they’re really crook” to “you wouldn’t even know they had it”.</p> <p>This is in line with studies that report moderate to severe illness in a minority of people (usually older with other risk factors) and that <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2109229118" target="_blank" rel="noopener">up to one in three positive people exhibit no symptoms</a>.</p> <p>Given the ubiquitous presence of this <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-does-omicron-compare-with-delta-heres-what-we-know-about-infectiousness-symptoms-severity-and-vaccine-protection-172963" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highly infectious coronavirus</a> in our community and the high rate of asymptomatic illness, those who have not been diagnosed with COVID might wonder, “how would I know if I had been infected?” And, “does it matter if I have?”.</p> <p><strong>How COVID is diagnosed</strong></p> <p>Most people know they’ve had COVID because they had a fever or upper respiratory tract symptoms and/or were exposed to an infected person AND had a swab test (PCR or rapid antigen) that detected the COVID virus (SARS-CoV-2) in the upper airway.</p> <p>At the beginning of 2022, many people with consistent symptoms or high-risk exposures were not able to access PCRs or RATs to confirm their diagnosis, but instead presumed themselves positive and quarantined.</p> <p>It is possible to diagnose past infection in those who never tested positive. A blood test can look for <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3325#:%7E:text=SARS%2DCoV%2D2%20antibody%20tests%20and%20immunity,and%20memory%20against%20future%20infection." target="_blank" rel="noopener">SARS-CoV-2 antibodies</a> (also known as immunoglobulins). When we are infected with SARS-CoV-2, our immune system launches a precision counter strike by producing antibodies against viral targets, specifically the Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins. COVID vaccination <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-when-the-covid-19-vaccines-enter-the-body-a-road-map-for-kids-and-grown-ups-164624" target="_blank" rel="noopener">induces</a> a similar immune response against the S protein only. The S antibody “neutralises” the invader by preventing the virus from attaching to human cells.</p> <p>These antibodies can be detected within one to three weeks after infection and persist for <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33408181/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least six months – potentially much longer</a>. A blood test that shows antibodies to S and N proteins indicates someone has been previously infected. Detection of antibodies to the S protein only indicates vaccination (but not infection).</p> <p><strong>The problem with antibody tests</strong></p> <p>Before you rush off to get a COVID antibody test, there are a few notes of caution. There is still <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/resources/antibody-tests-guidelines.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">much to learn about the characteristics</a> of the immune response to COVID infection. Not everyone mounts a detectable antibody response following infection and levels can decline to undetectable levels after several months in some people.</p> <p>Because there are other circulating seasonal coronaviruses (such as those that cause the common cold), tests may also pick up antibodies to non-SARS-CoV-2 strains, leading to “false positive” results.</p> <p>Commercial and public hospital pathology labs can perform SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing, but the interpretation of results should be undertaken carefully.</p> <p>So, antibody testing should really only be done when there’s a good reason to: say, when confirming past infection or effectiveness of vaccination is important for the current care of an individual. Diagnosing a post-infectious complication or eligibility for a specific treatment, for example. It could also be useful for contact tracing or for assessing the background population rate of infection.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/452963/original/file-20220318-10592-1aq4y5g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/452963/original/file-20220318-10592-1aq4y5g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/452963/original/file-20220318-10592-1aq4y5g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/452963/original/file-20220318-10592-1aq4y5g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=438&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/452963/original/file-20220318-10592-1aq4y5g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=550&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/452963/original/file-20220318-10592-1aq4y5g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=550&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/452963/original/file-20220318-10592-1aq4y5g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=550&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Antibody testing a population</strong></p> <p>“<a href="https://www.ncirs.org.au/our-work/serosurveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seroprevalence studies</a>” test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in repositories of stored blood that are representative of the general population, such as from a blood bank. This data helps to understand the true extent of COVID infection and vaccination status in the community (and informs our assessment of population susceptibility to future infection and reinfection). It’s more useful than daily reported case numbers, which are skewed towards symptomatic individuals and those with access to swab testing.</p> <p>New <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.14.21267791v2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> from the World Health Organization, which is yet to be reviewed by other scientists, reported the results of a meta-analysis of over 800 seroprevalence studies performed around the world since 2020. They estimated that by July 2021, 45.2% of the global population had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies due to past infection or vaccination, eight times the estimate (5.5%) from a year earlier.</p> <p>There are <a href="https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/news/how-many-australians-have-had-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plans</a> to conduct <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/20/blood-test-surveys-crucial-to-estimate-covid-spread-in-australia-experts-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fresh seroprevalence studies</a> in Australia in the coming year, which will <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/9/3/ofac002/6517685" target="_blank" rel="noopener">update local data</a> and help us understand to what extent the Omicron wave has washed through the population.</p> <p><strong>Does it matter if I have had COVID and didn’t know?</strong></p> <p>For most people, knowing your COVID infection status is unlikely to be more than a topic of dinnertime conversation.</p> <p>While some studies have pointed to a less robust and durable antibody response following <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7454692/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mild</a> or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33208819/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asymptomatic</a> infection compared with severe illness, it is not known how this influences protection from reinfection. Certainly, the knowledge we have antibodies from past infection should not deter us from being fully up-to-date with COVID vaccination, which remains the best protection against severe illness.</p> <p>There are reports of people with mild or asymptomatic COVID infection developing <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-Post_COVID-19_condition-Clinical_case_definition-2021.1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long COVID</a> – persistent or relapsing symptoms that last several months after initial infection. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, physical and mental fatigue, exercise intolerance, headaches, and muscle and joint pain.</p> <p>However, the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01292-y.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">likelihood</a> of developing this condition appears higher in those who suffer a heavier initial bout of COVID illness. This might be linked with <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)00072-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher viral load</a> at that time.</p> <p><strong>Bottom line</strong></p> <p>As we enter the third year of the COVID pandemic and given that up to one in three infections may be asymptomatic, it is likely many of us have been infected without knowing it.</p> <p>If you are experiencing lingering fatigue, brain fog or other symptoms that could be long COVID, you should talk to your GP. Otherwise, knowing our COVID infection status is unlikely to be of much practical benefit. Antibody testing should be reserved for specific medical or public health indications.</p> <p>Being up-to-date with COVID vaccination is still our best defence against severe illness moving forward.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/178630/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ashwin-swaminathan-1308612" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ashwin Swaminathan</a>, Senior Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian National University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-i-have-had-covid-and-not-realised-it-178630" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

A new Covid variant has emerged: Can you get it if you’ve had Covid already?

<p dir="ltr">Health authorities have expressed their concern over the spread of a new variant of COVID-19, with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet saying they would “tailor settings” if needed.</p> <p dir="ltr">A new subvariant of Omicron, called BA.2, has been recorded across the globe and is the dominating strain in at least 18 countries.</p> <p dir="ltr">Currently, the BA.1 Omicron variant remains the top strain in NSW and Victoria, though NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said BA.2 could quickly overtake it and cause cases to double within the next four to six weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other states, including Victoria, are expected to follow suit.</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes as both NSW and Victoria recorded a drop in cases on Friday after experiencing 16,288 and 7779 new cases on Thursday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Appearing on <em>Sunrise</em>, Mr Perrottet said that boosters were the best protection against the new variant, and that authorities would “tailor settings” if required.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The best thing we can do is get boosted,” he <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/coronavirus/ba2-omicron-covid-variant-rapidly-sweeping-the-globe-and-could-see-cases-double-in-nsw--c-6013296" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The virus is not going away.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>BA.2 explained</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The Omicron variant of Covid, the dominant version circulating around the world, is made up of several subvariants called BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4, with BA.1 and BA.2 being the most common.</p> <p dir="ltr">These two subvariants differ in their genetic sequences, with some studies finding BA.2 has a growth advantage over BA.1. <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-variants-viral-mutation-and-covid-19-vaccines-the-science-you-need-to-understand-153771" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Richard Kuhn</a>, a professor of biological sciences at Purdue University, a variant with a growth advantage is better than the original virus, meaning it can evolve and be “successful” at spreading.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e8fe59d6-7fff-84ab-4d2c-41a94ced165a">In a <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/22-02-2022-statement-on-omicron-sublineage-ba.2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, the WHO pointed to initial data suggesting BA.2 appears to be more transmissible than BA.1, though the difference between them is less stark than the difference in transmissibility of Omicron BA.1 versus the Delta strain.</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Can I get BA.2 if I’ve already had Covid?</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Though studies investigating BA.2 are ongoing, some initial data suggests that people who have been infected with the Omicron variant are protected from reinfection with BA.2 “for the limited period for which data are available”.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.02.19.22271112v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Danish study</a>, which is yet to be published or peer-reviewed by other scientists, they sequenced samples from 263 people who had been infected with COVID-19 twice between November 11, 2021 and February 11, 2022. </p> <p dir="ltr">Of these, 47 were found to have contracted BA.1 first and BA.2 second, 50 contracted the same variant twice, and 140 contracted BA.2 after they were infected with Delta.</p> <p dir="ltr">Out of those 47 people, the majority were unvaccinated, under the age of 20, and experienced mild symptoms.</p> <p dir="ltr">The WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) also considered data from South Africa, the UK, and Denmark to assess the severity of disease caused by BA.2, finding that there was no “reported difference” between it and BA.1.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b06cb7f1-7fff-a2de-c43b-3fb32775ed23"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

Ben Fordham slams Dr Swan's Covid "alarmism"

<p>Radio broadcaster Ben Fordham has launched a scathing attack on the ABC's Dr Norman Swan, condemning his "Covid scare campaign" in the wake of the Omicron wave. </p><p>The 2GB radio host jumped to the defence of Dr Angelique Coetzee, who "discovered" the Omicron variant in South Africa, who claims he has been subject to online "attacks" and abuse from scientists, doctors and global politicians for down-playing the severity of the variant. </p><p>Fordham called out a series of doctors who he called "Covid alarmists", as he urged listeners not to listen to them after citing low deaths rates from the latest Covid variant. </p><p>"This doctor [Coetzee] should be celebrated for her groundbreaking research on coronavirus but instead she had people trying to convince her to shut her mouth," he said.</p><p>"The death rate from Omicron is 0.1 per cent. Its fatality rate is the same as a bad flu season in Australia."</p><p>"But the scare campaign has been in overdrive. At the start of the pandemic we were warned about 150,000 deaths in Australia. We've had 4,300."</p><p>"All tragic but nothing like we warned about," he said. </p><p>According to the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Department of Health</a>, the Australian death toll has been significantly higher since the Omicron variant, as opposed to the 2021 Delta variant. </p><p>Fordham went on to slam "Covid cheerleader" Dr Swan who recently claimed that Omicron was not as mild as previously believed and gave little to no natural immunity. </p><p>"Norman Swan was ignoring the science, he was ignoring the scientist who discovered Omicron," Fordham said.</p><p>The radio host continued his praise of Dr Coetzee, who said she has been "accused of lying" by many global superpowers. </p><p>"They are accusing me of lying, of downplaying Omicron because of how it has been in Europe … in their minds, it is impossible for a disease with more than 38 mutations to be mild."</p><p>"I have stated many times before it can be a serious illness if you are unvaccinated and have comorbidities but for the majority of people it is a mild illness."</p><p>"If a clinical feature proves I am wrong, then I will apologise."</p><p>Fordham ended the segment by praising Dr Coetzee, who has vowed to "stick to her guns" and not give in to the pressure.</p><p>"Good on you doctor. Don't give in to the scaremongers," he said.</p><p><em>Image credits: Instagram @benfordham9 @norman.swan</em></p>

Caring

How to look after your mental health if you’re at home with COVID

<p>For many of us, catching COVID and isolating at home can be a lonely, scary and distressing experience.</p> <p>For those with a pre-existing mental illness, it can be even more difficult.</p> <p>The following strategies are designed to help you look after your mental health if you get COVID and are isolating at home.</p> <p><strong>Remember the basics</strong></p> <p>When living in a time of great uncertainty and threat, it can be difficult to remember and practice <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support/covid-19-support" target="_blank">simple strategies</a> to maximise wellness.</p> <p>If you’re isolating at home with COVID, it’s important to:</p> <ul> <li> <p>manage fever and other symptoms like aches, pains and sore throat with paracetamol or ibuprofen</p> </li> <li> <p>maintain a healthy diet</p> </li> <li> <p>keep your fluid intake up, particularly if you have a fever</p> </li> <li> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/returning-to-sports-or-exercise-after-recovering-from-covid-19/" target="_blank">stop exercise</a> for at least 10 days, and depending on the severity of your symptoms, return to exercise slowly (if you have any questions about returning to exercise, ask your GP)</p> </li> <li> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-recovery-breathing-exercises" target="_blank">deep breathing</a>, which can help lung function and help you stay calm during isolation and recovery, but this should be done in consultation with your doctor</p> </li> <li> <p>practise <a rel="noopener" href="https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/Managing-my-daily-life/Coping-with-isolation-and-being-at-home/how-mindfulness-can-help-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic" target="_blank">mindfulness</a> to help cope with the inevitable anxiety around illness and isolation</p> </li> <li> <p>find distractions like reading, watching movies or doing a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-15/new-research-supports-arts-for-mental-health/100452968" target="_blank">creative activity</a>, which can help keep your brain from fixating on worry (this is particularly important for children)</p> </li> <li> <p>and stay connected with friends and family, online or over the phone.</p> </li> </ul> <p>It’s important to monitor your COVID symptoms. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has a useful <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Clinical%20Resources/Guidelines/Managing-mild-COVID-19-at-home-with-assistance-from-your-GP.pdf" target="_blank">symptom diary</a> to assist with this. Or use the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker/tool/basic-details" target="_blank">Healthdirect symptom checker</a> to decide whether you need medical help.</p> <p>If you live alone, you should arrange for someone to contact you regularly to make sure you are managing.</p> <p><strong>Some coping strategies to avoid</strong></p> <p>During times of anxiety and uncertainty, such as isolating at home with COVID, it’s understandable people may turn to <a rel="noopener" href="https://adf.org.au/covid-19/" target="_blank">drugs and alcohol</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00435-1/fulltext" target="_blank">unhealthy eating</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://aifs.gov.au/agrc/publications/gambling-australia-during-covid-19" target="_blank">gambling</a>, or other addictions to manage psychological discomfort.</p> <p>These strategies may temporarily alleviate stress. But they can cause more mental health issues in the longer term.</p> <p>It’s also important to avoid “<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/doomsurfing-doomscrolling-words-were-watching" target="_blank">doom scrolling</a>”, which is the tendency to continue to scroll through bad news on your mobile phone, even though the news is saddening, disheartening or depressing.</p> <p>You might want to disengage from mainstream or social media if it has become harmful to your mental health.</p> <p><strong>It’s been extra hard for those with mental illnesses</strong></p> <p>The COVID pandemic has made living with mental illness even more difficult. The last few years have been challenging and exhausting for many. People with mental illnesses, and other chronic conditions, have had to adapt their normal management strategies to cope, shifting care and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/digital-mental-health-services" target="_blank">some forms of therapy online</a>.</p> <p>Recovery from, and management of, mental illness often involves activities like exercise, positive social engagement and therapy – all of which may be limited due to COVID restrictions, financial constraints and staff shortages.</p> <p>Acute services, including hospitals and general practice, are struggling to meet demand.</p> <p>Isolation can be particularly difficult for people who don’t have a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2024046" target="_blank">safe and secure home</a>. People experiencing domestic violence have more difficulty accessing care as they may <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/covid-19-fast-facts-prevalence-of-domestic-violence-among-women-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">not be safe interacting with health professionals</a> in their homes.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/child-protection/child-protection-in-the-time-of-covid-19/summary" target="_blank">Children are at increased risk</a> of harm if they live with domestic violence. They may have no safe places to go when schools or childcare facilities are closed, so family, friends and services like <a rel="noopener" href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/" target="_blank">Kids Helpline</a> play an important role in supporting children.</p> <p><strong>Seeking help</strong></p> <p>There are many resources available to assist you if you’re isolating due to COVID.</p> <p>Your GP can provide advice, help you navigate the health system and treat physical and mental health symptoms, via <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/12/medicare-telehealth-services-consumer-information.pdf" target="_blank">telehealth over the phone or online</a>. Medicare rebates for telehealth are available if you have seen the GP face to face in the previous 12 months.</p> <p>The <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/national-coronavirus-helpline" target="_blank">National Coronavirus Helpline</a> is a 24-hour service that provides free advice on how to seek medical help.</p> <p>Beyond Blue offers a <a rel="noopener" href="https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/COVID-normal" target="_blank">series of resources</a> for adapting to the pandemic, including for Australians living overseas and people who speak languages other than English. The organisation also offers free counselling during the pandemic. Call 1800 512 348 to speak with a trained mental health professional, or chat online.</p> <p>The federal government provides a free mental health service for people in <a rel="noopener" href="https://headtohelp.org.au" target="_blank">Victoria</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/popup" target="_blank">NSW and the ACT</a> who’ve been affected by the pandemic. Call 1800 595 212 from Monday to Friday, 8:30am-5pm.</p> <p>The <a rel="noopener" href="https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/raising-healthy-minds" target="_blank">Raising Healthy Minds app</a> has information, ideas and guidance for parents to help them support their child’s mental health and well-being.</p> <p>People who are experiencing domestic violence can access support through calling 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visiting the organisation’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://1800respect.org.au/" target="_blank">website</a>.</p> <p>Each state and territory also offers <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/covid-19-and-mental-health" target="_blank">a mental health service</a> to help you access local support:</p> <ul> <li> <p>ACT — Canberra Health Services Access Mental Health on 1800 629 354 or 02 6205 1065 (available 24/7)</p> </li> <li> <p>NSW — Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 (available 24/7)</p> </li> <li> <p>NT — Northern Territory Mental Health Line on 1800 682 288 (available 24/7)</p> </li> <li> <p>Queensland — Mental health access line on 1300 642 255 (available 24/7)</p> </li> <li> <p>SA — SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line on 1800 632 753 (available 8am-8pm)</p> </li> <li> <p>Tasmania — Mental Health Service Helpline on 1800 332 388</p> </li> <li> <p>Victoria — Head to Help on 1800 595 212 (available 8:30am-5pm, Monday to Friday)</p> </li> <li> <p>WA — Mental Health Emergency Response Line on 1300 555 788 (metro) or 1800 676 822 (Peel) (available 24/7).</p> </li> </ul> <hr /> <p><em>If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.</em><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174536/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-stone-454952" target="_blank">Louise Stone</a>, General practitioner; Associate Professor, ANU Medical School, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877" target="_blank">Australian National University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-look-after-your-mental-health-if-youre-at-home-with-covid-174536" target="_blank">original article</a>.</em></p>

Mind

I just recovered from Omicron – how long does my immunity last?

<div class="copy"> <p>If you recently recovered from an <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/covid/omicron-update-170122/" target="_blank">Omicron infection</a>, do you now have free rein to do whatever you want without risk of reinfection? And if so, for how long?</p> <p>Two main factors affect how well your acquired immunity after Omicron infection will protect you. </p> <p>First, your antibody levels. “If high levels of neutralising antibodies are elicited to Omicron following infection, then we would expect to see some level of protection against reinfection with Omicron, but this is likely to be short-lived,” says Professor Gilda Tachedjian, a virologist at the Burnet Institute and past president of the Australian Virology Society.</p> <p>Generally, a more severe infection generates a higher level of antibodies than an asymptomatic infection, explains Professor Anthony Cunningham, an infectious diseases physician and clinical virologist at the University of Sydney. But when the level of neutralising antibodies begins to drop, your likelihood of reinfection rises.</p> <p>It’s simply too early to know how long Omicron immunity will last, he says.</p> <p>From vaccine studies, we know that antibody levels begin to drop after three to six months. A <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00219-6/fulltext" target="_blank">recent study</a> published in <em>The Lancet</em> estimated that reinfection by SARS-CoV-2 under endemic conditions would likely occur between three months and five years after peak antibody response.</p> <p>Almost certainly, Cunningham says, there will be a lot of individual variation, similar to what has been observed with previous strains. This variation depends on the severity of the disease you experienced, and whether you have had a vaccine.</p> <p>The second factor: emerging variants. Our waning antibodies may not be able to target any new variants that come along. The Omicron variant, for example, largely evades immunity from past infection and vaccines. A recent <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mrc-global-infectious-disease-analysis/covid-19/report-49-Omicron/" target="_blank">report</a> from Imperial College London estimates that the risk of reinfection with Omicron is 5.4 times greater than that of the Delta variant.</p> <p>“The most likely outcome is that you won’t get re-infected with Omicron because the expectation is that the Omicron wave will decline, but then the greatest risk is that another strain comes along,” says Cunningham. “It all depends on what type of strain comes next.”</p> <p>Even if you have had a recent Omicron infection, don’t throw your mask away, warns Cunningham: “The more virus circulates in the world, the more likely it is that we’ll see new strains.”</p> <p>Although protection from reinfection might not last for long, experts think T-cells might come to the rescue.</p> <p>While antibodies directly bind and neutralise virions, preventing an infection, T-cells activate once the infection is established. They target and kill virus-infected cells, helping to clear the infection and reduce its severity. This arm of the immune response tends to be broader than antibodies – and thus more likely to recognise variants, and to last longer, Tachedjian explains.</p> <p>“Hopefully, you will be asymptomatic or have a less severe disease [the second time around].”</p> <em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/covid/immunity-after-omicron-infection/">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Dr Manuela Callari. </em></p> </div>

Body

Anthony Callea slams government after testing positive for Covid-19

<p>Anthony Callea has detailed his "scary" experience after testing positive for Covid-19 in a lengthy post on Instagram. </p> <p>The 39-year-old singer said he has been in "the most excruciating pain" since his diagnosis, and has been relying on "a ridiculous amount of pain killers" to help the symptoms. </p> <p>“This sh*t is real and from what I can understand and what my Dr has observed from what I have and am going through, it seems I have the Delta variant,” Callea posted to his 140,000 Instagram followers.</p> <p>“My head felt like it was about to combust, my throat, well I have never felt pain in my throat like that before, it was like someone stabbing me right in the throat!"</p> <p>“My chest was tight, I felt as though I was about to burst my ear drums and my body overall just felt like it was shutting down.”</p> <p>Callea, who is double vaccinated, said he took a rapid test as soon as his symptoms first began, which returned a positive result. </p> <p>“The past 3 days have been really scary. I’ve never felt like this before in my life,” Callea added.</p> <p>“Today is the first day I’m actually feeling somewhat human, I can’t speak from all the coughing, I’m really tired and throat is still sore, but at least I feel alive."</p> <p>“Thankfully I’m double vaxxed, would hate to think what I’d be like if I weren’t.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYV3XEDPCOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYV3XEDPCOP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by A N T H O N Y C A L L E A (@anthonycallea)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Anthony praised his husband, actor Tim Campell - who tested negative - for taking care of him during his isolation period, before lashing out at the federal government for the "shambolic mess" of the pandemic response. </p> <p>“If only our Government would do the right thing by others and it’s people and manage this shambolic mess!” he wrote.</p> <p>“I could go on and on but I don’t have the energy.”</p> <p>Continuing on his rant, Anthony took aim at the government's decision to let tennis champion Novak Djokovic into Australia: a decision that has since been overturned. </p> <p>He said, <span>“Seeing that the Australian Open is allowing Djokovic to play is a slap in the face to every single Australian and business that has done the right thing in the past 2 years,” he said.</span></p> <p>He finished his lengthy post by telling everyone to stay safe, and his predictions for the future. </p> <p>He wrote, "Stay safe everyone, I feel as though the next few months are going to be a s*** show! Yay to 2022 hey?"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram @anthonycallea</em></p>

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Top Covid expert sees an end to pandemic within two months

<p>A top health official in Denmark has predicted that the Covid pandemic could end within two months in some countries, thanks to the Omicron variant. </p> <p><span>Tyra Grove Krause, the chief epidemiologist at Denmark’s State Serum Institute, told <a rel="noopener" href="https://nyheder.tv2.dk/2022-01-03-ssi-vi-kan-have-vores-normale-liv-tilbage-om-to-maaneder" target="_blank">Danish TV 2</a> that a recent study conducted by the institute has found that Covid hospitalisations have halved with Omicron, as opposed to the previous Delta variant. </span></p> <p><span>When questioned about how long the virus will affect daily life in Denmark, she said, </span>“I think it will have that in the next two months, and then I hope the infection will start to subside and we get our normal lives back”.</p> <p>Dr Grove Krause’s research also stated that “Omicron is here to stay”.</p> <p>“It will provide some massive spread of infection in the coming month. When it’s over, we’re in a better place than we were before,” the paper said.</p> <p><span>Dr Grove Krause claims that daily life may return to normal within a few months as more people are likely to become infected, raising the level of natural immunity for the majority of the population.</span><span></span></p> <p>“Omicron will peak at the end of January, and in February we will see declining infection pressure and a decreasing pressure on the health care system,” she said. “But we have to make an effort in January, because it will be hard to get through”.</p> <p>“In the long run, we are in a place where coronavirus is here, but where we have restrained it, and only the particularly vulnerable need to be vaccinated up to the next winter season,” she said.</p> <p>The optimistic news out of Denmark comes just days after the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.who.int" target="_blank">World Health Organisation</a> made a similarly positive statement about Omicron. </p> <p><span>“If we put an end to inequality, we will put an end to the pandemic and the global nightmare that we have all gone through,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a speech on New Year’s Eve.</span></p> <p><span>Top US pandemic Adviser Anthony Fauci also said that the experience in South Africa, where the new variant quickly peaked before subsiding, offered some hope to other countries. </span></p> <p><span>“When one looked at the relationship and the ratio between hospitalisations and cases (in South Africa), it was lower, the duration of hospital stay was lower, the requirements for oxygen was lower,” he said. “We’re seeing a bit of that, not as pronounced, in the UK, but certainly that trend. And if you look here at the United States, we don’t want to get complacent at all, and you don’t want to jump to a positive conclusion, because it’s still early," he said. </span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em><span></span></p>

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Peter “Captain Covid” Helliar asks burning Covid question

<p dir="ltr">Comedian and<span> </span><em>Project</em><span> </span>co-host Peter Heliar used an interview with Covid expert Dr Norman Swan to ask for some health advice for himself, a month after battling COVID-19.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 46-year-old suddenly disappeared from the show in early November, revealing shortly after via social media that he had been diagnosed with Covid. Having received both Covid jabs, the comic described his symptoms as no worse than a “mild cold”.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Thursday night’s episode, he took the opportunity to ask Dr Swan what people who had been infected, like himself, should do about getting dose three of the vaccine as the Omicron variant makes its way through the community.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">As some states continue to drop restrictions for the unvaccinated, other states are bringing rules back as Omicron continues to spread. Dr <a href="https://twitter.com/normanswan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@normanswan</a> tells us more.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/vU0HGIAaiA">pic.twitter.com/vU0HGIAaiA</a></p> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1471396116935675907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“There’s been a lot of different advice for people who’ve had Covid - including myself, Captain Covid - when is the right time?” he<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/peter-helliars-one-big-question-after-battling-covid/news-story/481e1a7b3fb9328e95f3aabc21bc2024" target="_blank">asked</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The good news for people who’ve had the infection is it’s the equivalent of having a third dose of the vaccine,” said Dr Swan. “So, Pete, you might be OK, at least for the time being.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was double-vaxxed when I got Covid,” Heliar told him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So you’ve effectively had a third dose, and there’s probably not a breakneck rush. But you’re not going to come to any harm if you have a fourth one, just to be sure,” he advised.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Swan also shared some worrying advice for anyone who received doses of AstraZeneca.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Astra, after about 14 or 15 weeks, has zero protection against symptomatic disease,” he said, referring to data which had been released from Britain.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s probably got some protection against hospitalisation, but zero protection against symptomatic disease. That’s why the British went for three months (for boosters), and it’s why we should too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Panellist Jan Fran, who was one of many young Australians to get the AstraZeneca jab, was particularly concerned, and asked how she and others like her could protect themselves against the Omicron variant.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hearing you say that does not fill me with a lot of confidence,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What advice do you have for people like me who might be worried they have no protection at all?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Swan reiterated that the AstraZeneca vaccine did protect people against hospitalisation - “but what you’ve got to do, as soon as you’re eligible, is get a booster. Whatever’s available, Pfizer or Moderna. And in the meantime, I’d be wearing a mask and taking a bit of care.”</p> <p dir="ltr">His appearance on the show comes as the country records exponentially growing Covid case numbers, with NSW recording 2213 new cases on Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: The Project (Twitter)</em></p>

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Delta Goodrem finally reveals why she REALLY left The Voice

<p>Delta Goodrem has finally opened up about her surprise departure from her role as a coach on <em>The Voice</em>. </p> <p>After eight long seasons on the show, Delta revealed she was keen to "find a new chapter creatively", after being part of of the franchise since 2012. </p> <p>Delta started on the show on the first season, skipped season three and then returned for season four until the ninth season in 2020. </p> <p>Following the 2020, the future of <em>The Voice</em> took an unexpected turn, as rival network Seven poached the series when the Nine Network failed to pick it up.</p> <p>After months of speculation, the new coaching panel was revealed for the 2021, with Delta nowhere to be seen. </p> <p>“[The Voice] took up a lot of the year for me but I loved the show,” Goodrem says in a new interview for <a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au">Marie Claire’s January issue</a>.</p> <p>“I gave it my absolute everything. I gave the artists everything I had. I was there from the very start and I was proud to be an anchor on the show.”</p> <p>However, when Delta hit the 150-episode mark, she knew it was time to move on. </p> <p><span>“In my heart I was like ‘thank you for this, now let’s finish the season, then it’s time for me to find a new chapter creatively’,” she said.</span></p> <p><span>The show's 10th season was an unlikely success for Channel 7, which was a bitter blow for the Nine Network. </span></p> <p>“Unfortunately due to the age of the show and its declining demographic profile, The Voice had become by far the poorest financial performer on our slate. We wish Seven well in their quest to revive yet another Nine show,” a Nine spokesperson said at the time of the dramatic poaching.</p> <p>Delta claims her exit from the show has given her time to focus on her music career, with her latest release hitting the top of the charts. </p> <p><span>“I’ve been proud of being my authentic self the whole way through my career. Living boldly is how I want to approach my life and, for now, first and foremost, that means getting back on stage and doing live music,” she said.</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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