Estimating the incidence of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infection in three regions of Queensland, Australia, winter 2022: findings from a novel longitudinal testing-based sentinel surveillance programme.

Objective: The 2022 Australian winter was the first time that COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were circulating in the population together, after two winters of physical distancing, quarantine and borders closed to international travellers. We developed a novel surveillance system to estimate the incidence of COVID-19, influenza and RSV in three regions of Queensland, Australia.

Design: We implemented a longitudinal testing-based sentinel surveillance programme.

Factors associated with hospitalisations and deaths of residential aged care residents with COVID-19 during the Omicron (BA.1) wave in Queensland.

Objective: To identify characteristics associated with the hospitalisation and death of people with COVID-19 living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting, Participants: All confirmed (polymerase chain reaction testing) or probable SARS-CoV-2 infections (rapid antigen tests) in residents of the 86 RACFs in the Metro South Hospital and Health Service area (southeast Queensland), 13 December 2021 - 24 January 2022.

Protocol for a winter sentinel surveillance program of notifiable respiratory viruses in Queensland.

Background: With the reduction in access to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and changes in testing guidelines in Australia, a reduced number of people are seeking testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), limiting the opportunity to monitor disease transmission. Knowledge of community transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses is essential to better predict subsequent surges in cases during the pandemic to alert health services, protect vulnerable populations and enhance public health measures. We describe a methodology for a testing-based sentinel surveillance program to monitor disease in the community for early signal detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses.