Hospitalisations remain high after the ACT recorded its second highest number of admissions since the pandemic began.
The ACT has recorded 997 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, an increase in numbers. Previously, there were 831 new infections reported in the capital.
Canberra hospitals were caring for 69 patients with COVID-19 at 8pm on Tuesday night, including four people in intensive care and none on ventilation.
This comes after the ACT recorded the same number of patients on Tuesday, the second highest number of people in hospital since the pandemic began.
The territory's pandemic case tally is now at 101,899 since March 12, 2020. Infections officially passed the 100,000 mark on Monday.
There has now been a total of 50 deaths in the territory. This comes after it was revealed most people who died with virus in the ACT had not received three vaccinations.
The ACT now has 5288 active cases of coronavirus, down from 5535 reported in the previous period. Of the new cases, 427 were reported through PCR tests and 570 as a result of rapid tests.
ACT Health has released a breakdown of new cases:
- 0-4: 47 (5 per cent)
- 5-11: 41 (4 per cent)
- 12-17: 81 (8 per cent)
- 18-24: 110 (11 per cent)
- 25-39: 298 (30 per cent)
- 40-49: 166 (17 per cent)
- 50-64: 155 (16 per cent)
- 65+: 99 (10 per cent)
Latest vaccination rates
The first-dose vaccination rate for children aged five to 11 is at 80.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, fully vaccinated people aged over five make up 96.9 per cent of the ACT population. The percentages have decreased from 98.7 per cent due to a revision in ACT Health's population estimate. The proportion of people aged 16 and over who are triple-vaxxed rose to 75.1 per cent.
New household close contact rules
Household contacts of COVID-positive cases will no longer have to quarantine for seven days as long as they remain symptom free and follow a new set of precautions.
The changing rules mean that people in the same house as a positive case will no longer need to quarantine for the full seven days if they have no symptoms.
However, they will still be required to minimise their movements in the community and follow the risk mitigation requirements set out by ACT Health.
Household contacts are required to get a negative COVID test 24 hours before leaving the house for any reason. This can be a rapid antigen test completed at home.
Those with symptoms or who are unable to comply with risk mitigation requirements will still be required to stay home, even if they test negative for COVID, until their symptoms clear up.
People who have had COVID within 12 weeks of becoming a household contact do not need to isolate, quarantine or test.
Around Australia
NSW has recorded 12,188 new COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths in the 24 hours to 4pm.
There are 1,743 COVID-19 patients in hospital, with 73 in ICU.
Hospitalisation numbers are up on yesterday, when 1,695 patients were being cared for with 67 in ICU.
Of the new cases, 8,497 came from positive rapid antigen tests while 3,691 came from PCR testing.
Meanwhile, in Victoria 13 people have died and 10,734 new cases have been recorded.
There are 456 people in hospital and 32 people in intensive care units.
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