Here's a quick wrap of the COVID-19 news and case numbers from each Australian jurisdiction for the past week, as reported on Friday, May 26, 2023.
The states and territories are now reporting their COVID-19 statistics weekly, instead of through the daily updates that were provided from the early days of the pandemic.
This story will be updated throughout the day, so if you do not see your state or territory, check back later.
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Australian Capital Territory
- Tasmania
News you may have missed
- A new report into NSW Health's response to COVID-19 shows already-understaffed rural and remote health services did not have capacity to "surge" the workforce at the peak of the pandemic. Read the full story here.
- The US Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval to Pfizer's PFE.N oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid, clearing the way for the company to sell it at market rates once US government supplies dwindle.
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New South Wales
The state has recorded 14,409 new COVID cases, down slightly from last week's total of 14,699.
There are 1,366 cases in hospital with the virus, 34 of those in intensive care.
There were 69 new deaths announced today.
Victoria
There have been 10,642 new cases in Victoria this week.
The state has 407 people in hospital with COVID-19, and 17 in intensive care.
There were 63 new deaths recorded.
Northern Territory
There have been 203 new cases recorded in the Northern Territory.
The Northern Territory has six patients in hospital.
There were no new deaths recorded this week.
Queensland
Queensland's new COVID-19 reporting process now works on a seven-day rolling average system, which differs from the other states and territories.
The state recorded 757 average daily cases as of May 24.
There is a seven-day rolling average of three deaths, with 277 patients in hospital with the virus, and five of them in intensive care.
South Australia
There have been 4,012 new cases recorded this week.
South Australia has reported nine new deaths.
Western Australia
WA Health has recorded 4,486 new cases in the past week.
The state has 240 people in hospital with seven in intensive care.
This week's report includes 30 deaths.
Australian Capital Territory
There have been 996 new cases of COVID-19 this week.
There are 32 people in hospital, two in intensive care.
No new deaths have been reported.
Tasmania
Tasmania has recorded 1,381 new cases.
There have been 26 hospital admissions in the last week and three to intensive care.
One new death has been reported.
One thing to know: Australia is approaching its fifth COVID-19 wave. What can we expect this time?
A leading epidemiologist says it is clear Australia is approaching its fifth wave of COVID-19.
The University of South Australia's Professor Adrian Esterman says it is certainly true for South Australia, which has seen cases increase for three consecutive weeks.
But, how is the rest of the nation tracking and what could a fifth COVID wave look like?
Simply put, a wave happens when the numbers increase week on week.
Infectious diseases paediatrician Robert Booy says it doesn't depend on how many cases there are, but rather that there is a surge in numbers.
"It's about what was the rate of disease this week compared to last week and the week before," he said.
The WHO has begun negotiations for a new pandemic treaty. Here's how it would work
The World Health Organization (WHO) is in the midst of negotiating a new way to deal with pandemics, in the wake of the COVID-19 virus.
The WHO has a target date of May 2024 for a legally binding agreement to be adopted by the UN health agency's 194 member countries.
A new pact is a priority for WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who called it a "generational commitment that we will not go back to the old cycle of panic and neglect" at the UN agency's annual assembly.
It seeks to shore up the world's defences against new pathogens following the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed nearly 7 million people.
One last thing: Johnson referred to police over new allegations of lockdown breaches
Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has been referred to police by the British government over potential breaches of lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for overseeing the operation of government, said it had made a referral to police based on information discovered while preparing submissions for a public inquiry into the pandemic.
The Times newspaper, which first reported the news, said ministerial diaries showed visits during the pandemic by friends to Chequers, a rural country mansion used as a residence by sitting prime ministers.
