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 19, 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
- Western Australia
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Australian Capital Territory
News you may have missed
- Giro d'Italia leader and favourite Remco Evenepoel had to withdraw from the race on Sunday after testing positive for coronavirus. Read the full story here.
- Chinese holiday-makers say they want to come to Australia, but some travellers are having their tourist visa applications rejected. Read the full story here.
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New South Wales
The state has recorded 14,699 more COVID-19 cases.
There are 1,322 cases in hospital with the virus, 24 of those in intensive care.
There were 61 new deaths announced today.
Victoria
There have been another 9,316 COVID-19 cases in Victoria.
There are 327 cases in hospital with the virus, with 17 of those in intensive care.
There were 28 new deaths reported today.
Northern Territory
There have been 220 new COVID-19 cases reported in the Northern Territory this week.
The Northern Territory has 10 cases in hospital.
Two new deaths have been reported.
Western Australia
WA Health has reported 4,092 new COVID-19 cases in the past week.
There are 216 people in hospital, with seven in intensive care.
This week's report includes five COVID-19 deaths.
Queensland
Queensland has changed its COVID-19 reporting process to a seven-day rolling average system and its reporting now differs from the other states and territories.
The state recorded 702 average daily cases as of May 16.
There is a seven-day rolling average of three deaths, with 251 patients in hospital with the virus, and four of them in intensive care.
South Australia
South Australia has reported 3,256 new COVID-19 cases in the last seven days.
There have been eight new COVID-19 deaths reported.
Tasmania
Tasmania has recorded 1,252 new COVID-19 cases this week.
There have been 25 new COVID-19 admissions to hospitals in the past week, but no admissions to ICU.
There have been seven new COVID-19 deaths reported.
Australian Capital Territory
There have been 1,005 new COVID-19 cases recorded in the Australian Capital Territory this week.
There are 53 people in hospital, with four of those in ICU.
The territory reported no new deaths this week.
One thing to know: Vaccine fatigue and mistrust causing drop in childhood immunisation rates
A loss of confidence in the medical profession and mistrust of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic are causing childhood immunisation rates to drop, a Gold Coast physician says.
The number of children who are fully immunised in line with the National Immunisation Program has fallen nationally since peaking in 2020.
Gold Coast Public Health physician Kate Alexander said the issue was being noticed in the medical community.
"What's really concerning to us is that, over the past two years, we've seen vaccination rates dropping," Dr Alexander said.
"That trend, unfortunately, is being seen across the state, the country and internationally."
Heard a lot about RSV lately?
We're not in winter just yet, but the cold and flu season has arrived.
While there's been a lot of focus on COVID-19 and influenza in previous years, you might have heard about another virus going around: RSV.
Those initials stand for respiratory syncytial virus, which causes respiratory infections.
RSV is one of about 200 viruses that can cause a cold — so is very common.
"Most children will be infected with RSV at least once before they turn two," a Queensland Health spokesperson said.
"A single RSV infection does not result in long-lasting protective immunity and repeat infections can occur in children."
