The number of Australians who were hospitalised for an injury that occurred at home increased during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, while fewer people were injured in public places, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The report, Injury in Australia 2019-20 also shows males made up most of the 527,000 hospitalisations and 13,400 deaths due to injuries.
‘Most injuries, whether accidental or intentional, are preventable, yet they remain a major cause of hospitalisation and death in Australia,’ said AIHW spokesperson Dr. Adrian Webster (PhD).
‘COVID-19 restrictions contributed to a decrease in injury-related hospitalisations in the early months of 2020, with 14% fewer admissions between March and May compared with the previous year. However, as restrictions eased, injury admissions rose and by June 2020 were similar to previous years.
‘COVID-19 restrictions also changed the location of where injuries occurred. There were fewer injuries at community locations such as schools, sporting areas and shopping centres. Meanwhile, injuries at home were more frequent from April onwards.’
