Canberra has recorded another COVID-19 fatality as the number of patients in hospital with the virus has risen slightly.
A 96-year-old man with COVID-19 has died, bringing the total number of lives lost in the ACT since March 2020 to 51.
On Saturday, the ACT recorded 939 new cases, slightly down from 1072 cases from the previous reporting period.
There were 68 people in hospital with the disease at 8pm Friday, including three in intensive care, none requiring ventilation.
This week hospitalisations spiked at 69 patients, which was the second-highest number since a peak of 73 during the January wave.
The territory currently has 5540 active cases of COVID-19.
A total of 104,125 cases have been recorded in the ACT since the start of the pandemic.
Vaccination rates are not update by ACT Health on weekends.
Private hospitals to take public patients
Canberra's private hospitals have agreed to take up to 28 public patients at any one time to ease the pressure on the system.
The agreements with Calvary Health Care and Nexus Hospitals begins on Saturday and will run for six weeks with possibility of an extension.
It comes as Canberra hospitals have seen sicker patients admitted and serious staffing shortages in recent weeks.
Around Australia
NSW announced 11,709 fresh infections on Saturday along with 20 fatalities.
Victoria posted 9064 cases and 19 deaths while Queensland recorded five deaths and 5885 new cases.
Western Australia had 6829 new cases and Tasmania had 1054 new cases, no deaths.
Western Australia has dumped many COVID measures, including gathering limits, G2G travel passes and vaccine requirements for interstate travellers.
All states and territories have now relaxed quarantine requirements for asymptomatic close contacts.
- With AAP
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