The ACT has recorded more than 1000 new COVID-19 cases, as hospitalisations remain high.
The territory recorded 1015 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours until 8pm Wednesday. Of those, 547 were from PCR tests and 468 from rapid antigen tests.
Of the new cases, 323 were aged 25 to 39.
There were 89 people with COVID-19 in hospital in the 24 hours to Wednesday 8pm.
Of those, two patients are in the ICU and one is on ventilation.
The last time daily cases surpassed 1000 was on May 18, when 1098 cases were recorded for the ACT.
A record number of Canberrans in hospital with COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday.
New COVID cases in NSW neared 10,000 on Thursday. There were 9117 new cases and 1334 hospitalisations recorded until 4pm Wednesday.
The ACT's COVID-19 death toll is 68.
Wednesday's new cases by age group
- 0-4 years: 43
- 5-11 years: 64
- 12-17 years: 92
- 18-24 years: 89
- 25-39 years: 323
- 40-49 years: 166
- 50-64 years: 170
- 65+ years: 68
- Total: 1015
The Kambah drive through testing centre temporarily closed on Wednesday due to a technical issue on site, ACT Health said,
However, it reopened on Thursday and the technical issue has been fixed.
Mask-wearing will not be compulsory in the terminal of Canberra Airport from midnight on Friday.
The ACT Government has lifted the mandate after the advice from the main federal health officials changed.
In recent months, mask-wearing in the terminal has been a source of friction between the airport's owners and the ACT government.
The airport chief executive Stephen Byron said the mandate could have been lifted months ago.
COVID-19 vaccinations
- Aged 5-11 years (1 dose): 80.6 per cent
- Aged 5-11 years (2 doses): 68.5 per cent
- Aged 5+ years (2 doses): 97.3 per cent
- Aged 16+ years (3 doses): 77 per cent
Around Australia
Nations with a female head of state recorded about 40 per cent fewer COVID-19 deaths, according to research from the University of Queensland.
Associate Professor Kelvin Tan said female leaders took "quick and decisive action".
"We found female leaders tend to act promptly and decisively and are more risk-averse towards the loss of human life, which play an essential role in pandemic prevention and outcomes," they said.
"As of December 31, 2020 although the population of Australia was only five times that of NZ, Australia had reported around 13 times more infections and 36 times the number of deaths than the numbers reported by New Zealand."
NSW
- Deaths: 17
- New cases: 9117
- Hospitalisations: 1334
- ICU: 43
- Ventilation: Unknown
Victoria
- Deaths: 22
- New cases: 7889
- Hospitalisations: 465
- ICU: 27
- Ventilation: 9
Queensland
- Deaths: 13
- New cases: 4434
- Hospitalisations: 386
- ICU: 4
- Ventilation: Unknown
South Australia
- TBA
Tasmania
- Deaths: 0
- New cases: 872
- Hospitalisations: 38
- ICU: 1
- Ventilation: Unknown
Western Australia
- Deaths: 14
- New cases: 6249
- Hospitalisations: 262
- ICU: 10
- Ventilation: Unknown
Northern Territory
- TBA
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