Australia recorded another 27 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday.
Queensland has recorded nine new COVID-19 deaths, while there were seven in Victoria, four in NSW, four in South Australia, one in the Northern Territory, one in Tasmania, and one in Western Australia.
NSW reported 20,960 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, up from 14,970 on Monday.
There are 1,177 patients in hospital in NSW, a slight increase from 1,163 the day before.
Of the hospitalised cases, 41 are in ICU — up from 34 on Monday.
It comes after a two-year-old child with no underlying health conditions become the youngest person to die in NSW with COVID-19 on Monday.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale announced the toddler's death on Monday, saying the child had no underlying health concerns.
"Sadly a previously well two-year-old child from Sydney died at The Children's Hospital at Westmead due to COVID-19 infection," she said.
In January a three-year-old boy with a rare genetic condition became the youngest person in NSW to die after contracting COVID-19.
Both children were too young to be immunised but Dr Gale urged parents of children aged five and older to get them vaccinated "without delay", saying many children would now be eligible for their second dose.
Victoria reported 9,594 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the total number of active infections in the state to 52,983.
According to the authorities, 256 patients are currently in hospital, 24 in ICU and five on ventilators.
Sixty-four per cent of people aged 18 and above have received three vaccine doses in the state.
Queensland records nine new deaths
Queensland recorded nine more COVID-19 deaths and 8,881 new cases with Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe becoming the latest state government minister to test positive.
There are 252 patients in hospital and another nine in intensive care.
Mr Hinchliffe on Tuesday revealed he was the third state minister to contract the virus.
"I have tested positive for COVID and have mild symptoms," the tourism minister tweeted.
"I am following the isolation rules, will be recovering and working from home. Happy to be fully up-to-date with my vaccination status. Get boosted when you can!"
Education Minister Grace Grace and Health Minister Yvette D'Ath also tested positive this year.
The latest figures show 93.28 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have had one vaccine dose, while 91.49 per cent have had two.
Four deaths in South Australia
South Australia reported another 3,686 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and four deaths.
There are currently 165 people in hospital, including 11 in intensive care.
New Premier Peter Malinauskas said SA Health had been asked to look at ways to ensure hospitals were better prepared in light of recently updated modelling, which pointed to 8,000 cases a day within the next few weeks.
"What you will see in that modelling is that case numbers, even with current policy settings, are set to escalate in a rather significant way," Mr Malinauskas said.
"South Australians are entitled to know where we're at.
"People have seen case numbers go up and that looks as though it's continuing in the very near future."
What's happening elsewhere?
The Northern Territory reported 341 new COVID-19 cases and one death on Tuesday, with 14 people in hospital, including one in intensive care.
Tasmania also recorded the death of one person from COVID-19, along with 1,825 new cases on Tuesday. There are currently 25 patients in hospital, but none are in ICU.
The ACT reported 1,014 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. There are 38 people in hospital, including three in intensive care and one on a ventilator.
Western Australia recorded 7,075 new COVID-19 infections and one death. There are 180 people with the virus in hospital, six of whom are in ICU.
