- From today i. They will be allowed to go to work or school when they are close contacts of COVID-19 cases but are able to produce daily negative results to rapid antigen testing.
- Critical workers include transport, food manufacturing, retail including supermarkets, petrol stations, agriculture, mining, construction, aged care and schools.
- WA Education Minister Sue Ellery conceded this may lead to an increase in infections.
- NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said that the Omicron subvariant BA.2 is becoming dominant. As it is believed to be more transmissible, infection could "more than double" within six weeks as suggested by preliminary data from the University of NSW.
- The World Health Organization confirmed the number of infections and deaths linked to COVID-19 is falling, with only the Western Pacific Nations reporting an increase.
- Data shows that Hong Kong has now the world's highest death rate. More than half of its residents over 80 are still unvaccinated and COVID-19 has been reported in 87% of the island's aged care facilities.
- Cronulla head coach Craig Fitzgibbon will have to miss the first NRL season game having tested positive to COVID-19.
- Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will not participate to the Indian Wells tournament, as being unvaccinated he is currently not allowed to travel to the United States.
COVID-19 Australian Stats
New South Wales reported 991 patients hospitalised with 39 in intensive care. There were 4 deaths, and 16,288 new cases of COVID-19.
In Victoria, 188 people are in hospital with 32 in ICU and 3 on ventilators. There were 8 deaths and 7,779 new infections.
Tasmania has recorded 1,167 new COVID-19 cases. There are 16 people with COVID-19 in hospital, with 5 requiring intensive care.
In the ACT 37 people are now in hospital with COVID-19, 2 of them requiring intensive care, with 821 new infections reported.
In Queensland, there were 4,571 new COVID-19 cases and 5 deaths. 252 people are hospitalised with COVID-19, with 17 patients in ICU.
In Western Australia there were 4,535 new cases of COVID-19 with 80 people currently in hospital and 3 patients requiring intensive care.
In South Australia 91 people are currently in hospital with COVID-19 and 11 of them are in ICU, 2 are ventilated. There were 2,590 new cases.
In the Northern Territory there were 326 new cases of COVID-19 and one death. 33 people are now in hospital with 2 patients in ICU.
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