Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has passed another milestone, with four in five of all 12 to 15-year-olds now fully vaccinated against the virus.
The national death toll is 5991 (+32): NSW 2100 (+17), Victoria 2743 (+4), Queensland 737 (+5), South Australia 259, ACT 41 (+2), NT 35 (+1), Tasmania 31 and WA 47 (+3). (Two Queensland residents who died in NSW have been included in the official tolls of both states).
Over in Victoria, the health department announced four people died from COVID-19, along with 11,292 new cases, taking the total number of active cases in the state to 59,589.
There are currently 312 people in hospital in Victoria, with 14 in ICU and four on ventilators.
The most recent vaccination figures showed the double-vaccination rate for the age group passed the 80 per cent mark.
Those in the 12-15 age group are not yet eligible to receive a booster dose, with third doses only available to those 16 and over.
However, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is considering data from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer to allow a third dose to be approved for 12-to 15-year-olds.
The expert panel is reviewing data on epidemiology, serious illness and its use in the age group overseas.
Nationally, 66,974 cases were registered on Wednesday, the highest daily number of infections for more than two months.
The last time national daily case numbers were higher, it was more than 75,000 - recorded on 20 January during the height of the summer Omicron wave.
On Wednesday, there were 34 deaths recorded including 15 in NSW, seven in Victoria, five in Queensland, three in Western Australia, two in South Australia, and one each in both the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
Australia's booster rate climbed to 67.7 per cent of the eligible population, according to the latest statistics.
From next week, a fourth dose — or second booster — will be rolled out to older and vulnerable Australians, ahead of a predicted winter surge of cases.
People over 65, Indigenous Australians over 50, those in aged and disability care, as well as people who are immunocompromised, will be among the groups able to receive their fourth dose.
However, ATAGI has not recommended a fourth dose for the broader population.
Experts have warned the upcoming winter could see the virus coincide with rising flu cases, the first time the country has experienced an influenza season since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago.
Earlier this week, the federal government outlined $6 billion in the 2022-23 budget for winter preparedness to deal with the combined threat of COVID-19 and the flu.
