Another 28 new COVID-related deaths have been recorded in Australia as the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant of the virus continues to spread in the community.
Twelve of those deaths were reported in NSW in the 24 hours to 4pm Friday.
The state recorded 19,060 new cases of COVID-19 in the latest reporting period, just 90 fewer than the previous day's total of 20,050.
NSW hospitals are treating 1,090 patients with the virus, of whom 29 are in intensive care.
In Victoria, two more people with COVID-19 died in the 24 hours to midnight Friday.
Some 7,847 new cases were also detected in the state's latest reporting period.
COVID-19 hospitalisations in Victoria are at 210, including 23 in ICU and five on ventilators.
Meanwhile, Queensland registered the deaths of another 10 people with the virus in the 24 hours to 7pm Friday and 7,120 new cases.
The state's hospitalisations are at 235 including, 18 in intensive care.
What's happening around the country?
Western Australia recorded 5,838 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday, and four more deaths.
A further 3,724 people in South Australia tested positive to the virus in the state's latest reporting period.
There are 147 people with COVID-19 in SA's hospitals - seven of whom are in ICU with three on ventilators.
Some 1,479 more people tested positive for the virus in Tasmania's latest reporting period.
Twenty-four people in the state's hospitals have COVID-19, including two in intensive care.
In the ACT, there were 1,122 new cases in the latest reporting period.
Thirty-four COVID-19 patients are being treated in Canberra's hospitals, including two in ICU and one on a ventilator.
The Northern Territory continued to record the lowest number of cases of any Australian jurisdiction with just 232 new infections detected in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday.
Sixteen people are in NT hospitals with COVID-19, including one in intensive care.
Support measures for travel agents
Travel agents hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions will be given more than $75 million in government support to help recover.
In the wake of state and international borders reopening, a new program will offer targeted assistance to agents and tour arrangement service providers.
The funds will be directed towards helping travellers rebook trips using existing COVID-related credits.
Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says the $75.5 million package will boost the industry's bid to rebound from the downturns triggered by the pandemic.
"Australia's tourism industry is bouncing back, with international and state borders now open and a date set for the resumption of cruising," he said.
"Confidence is growing, Australians are booking holidays with their travel credits and our travel agents are in demand."
Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Dean Long says it's critically important the money is distributed quickly to eligible businesses and he believes a revised eligibility framework will facilitate that.
"Australians travelling are relying on their travel professionals now more than ever and this financial support is needed to start the process of rebuilding including replacing the 15,000 highly skilled people lost across Australia due to the financial devastation of COVID-restrictions and travel bans," he said.
The package comes just days after the Commonwealth announced an end to the ban on cruise ships entering Australia from 17 April. International liners have been unable to dock as a result of the pandemic.
The latest round of industry support also comes on top of $184 million in relief measures to travel agents since the start of the pandemic, with more than 5400 grants issued to more than 3200 agents.
The new assistance will be made up of grants of between $7,500 and $90,000, based on previous turnover levels with applications to open on 29 March and close on 20 April.
Additional reporting by AAP
