Australia has reported another 21 deaths due to COVID-19.
On Saturday, Victoria reported nine fatalities, and there were four in NSW and eight in Queensland.
NSW reported 19,843 new COVID-19 cases, and there were 8,349 new infections in Victoria, 9,404 in Queensland, 1,695 in Tasmania, 947 in the ACT, and 306 in the Northern Territory.
In NSW, there are 1,177 patients with the virus in hospitals across the state including 44 in intensive care units (ICU).
Some 250 people with COVID-19 are in Victorian hospitals. Of those, 44 are in ICU and four require ventilation.
In Queensland, there are 295 people in hospitals with the virus, 19 of whom are in ICU.
There are 42 people in ACT hospitals, including three in ICU; 22 in Northern Territory hospitals, including two in ICU, and 28 in Tasmanian hospitals, including one in ICU.
It comes as COVID-19 measures ease across the country with South Australia set to scrap its face mask mandate on 14 April and the national biosecurity emergency declaration expiring on 17 April.
The declaration allowed Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt to make COVID-19 entry and departure rules on international flights and cruise lines, and to protect remote communities in the Northern Territory.
Beyond 17 April, the ban on cruise lines will end, however, international passengers will still need to be double-dose vaccinated and wear masks on flights.
Mr Hunt said on Friday the development is another sign of things returning to normal.
"We've also spoken to the airlines and with the cruise lines - so they are informed. So that gives you a sense of Australia progressively returning to normal. But the best protection remains vaccination," Mr Hunt said.
The federal government also announced on Friday announced that the vaccine rollout would be expanded from 4 April to include a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for four groups.
The groups include those aged 65 years and over, Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and over, residents in the aged care or disability sector; and immunocompromised Australians aged 16 years and over.
Those eligible are advised to get a fourth dose between four and six months after the third jab.
The winter flu program is also being launched from 4 April for 5 million Australians mostly from the same groups as for the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose.
A free winter flu shot via the national immunisation program will be available for adults 65 years and over, children under five, pregnant women, Indigenous Australians of all ages, and people with particular immunocompromised medical conditions.
