Until COVID took hold at the beginning of 2022 Australia saw a reduction in deaths due to the above factors, which more than countered deaths due to COVID, lead

Until COVID took hold at the beginning of 2022 Australia saw a reduction in deaths due to the above factors, which more than countered deaths due to COVID, leading to the death rate being lower than normal. Another significant factor was the complete elimination of flu as a byproduct of COVID countermeasures (zero recorded flu cases or deaths for about a year). Flu came back in from overseas (with a vengeance) when the restrictions lifted.