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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Lanie Tindale

ACT reports fifth-highest number of new COVID cases, as hospitalisations remain over 100

In-depth COVID

Canberra has recorded the fifth-highest daily case increase in COVID numbers reported during the pandemic, and the highest since the peak of Omicron in January.

Hospitalisations also remain above 100. There were 116 people with COVID-19 in hospital in the 24 hours to Tuesday 8pm. This is five fewer than Monday.

Of those, only one patient is in the ICU and being ventilated.

The ACT recorded 1458 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours until 8pm Tuesday. That's the most in a day since January 19 when they reached 1467. The ACT's record is 1860 the day before.

The ACT's COVID-19 death toll remains at 78.

With a cancer clinic closed following a COVID-19 outbreak, the ACT has been warned to brace for another wave in infections.

On Tuesday, Canberra Hospital Cancer Centre clinic Paul Craft said while there was a "significant outbreak" at the clinic they have not had any new cases for four days.

"No one's got very ill from it fortunately so we haven't had to transfer patients to the COVID ward," he said.

The ward has been closed until all patients recover, meaning others in need of cancer treatment are in other parts of the hospital.

COVID-19 vaccinations

People who have had a COVID-19 booster shot are far less likely to die or be hospitalised with the Omicron variant.

An Australian-first study on the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines has found a third COVID jab provides two thirds more protection from death or hospitalisation from Omicron.

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance found having a booster provided 65 per cent better protection against hospitalisation and death from Omicron, compared with someone who had two doses.

People aged over 70 saw significant benefits - the study finding for every 192 people over 70 who was boosted, at least one hospitalisation or death had been prevented.

  • Aged 5-11 years (1 dose): 80.6 per cent
  • Aged 5-11 years (2 doses): 97.4 per cent
  • Aged 5+ years (2 doses): 97.3 per cent
  • Aged 16+ years (3 doses): 77.2 per cent

Around Australia

NSW

  • Deaths: 11
  • New cases: 11,067
  • Hospitalisations: 1526
  • ICU: 40
  • Ventilation: Unknown

Victoria

  • TBA

Queensland

  • Deaths: 19
  • New cases: 5268
  • Hospitalisations: 593
  • ICU: 14
  • Ventilation: Unknown

South Australia

  • TBA

Tasmania

  • Deaths: 1
  • New cases: 1174
  • Hospitalisations: 38
  • ICU: 5
  • Ventilation: Unknown

Northern Territory

  • TBA

Western Australia

  • WA no longer publishes daily COVID-19 updates

-With AAP

Our coverage of the health and safety aspects of this outbreak of COVID-19 in the ACT is free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. You can also sign up for our newsletters for regular updates.

Canberra Health Services lab worker Sadikshya Rijal. Picture: Keegan Carroll
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