Another 24 people have died after contracting COVID-19 in New South Wales, along with 16 others in Victoria, eight in Queensland and one in Tasmania.
The number of patients in NSW hospitals fell from 1,906 to 1,795.
Of those, 121 are in ICU, dropping from 132 on Wednesday and Monday's 137.
The state reported 10,130 new cases of COVID-19, which is a slight drop from 10,312 on Wednesday but up from 9,690 on Tuesday.
More than 1,600 people have died after contracting the virus in NSW.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said hospital visitation rules have been tweaked after backlash from families who were denied the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones.
Those gravely ill, dying, and giving birth will now be able to have visitors as a general rule.
"Ultimately we want to make sure that compassion is the major focus," he told reporters on Thursday.
Meanwhile, in Victoria, 543 people are in hospital after contracting COVID-19, slightly up from 542 on Tuesday, with 75 in ICU and 23 on ventilators.
The state recorded 9,391 new infections, down from 9,908 cases on Wednesday and slightly up from 8,275 cases on Tuesday.
The new cases include 6,045 from rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 3,346 from PCR tests, the health department confirmed on Thursday.
About 48 per cent of Victorians over 18 have received a vaccine booster after 14,863 doses were administered at state-run hubs on Wednesday.
AstraZeneca boosters provisionally approved
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved the AstraZeneca booster for adults, but it is not the preferred option.
The TGA has stressed Pfizer and Moderna remain the preferred booster options, regardless of what vaccines someone has previously received.
A person must talk to a doctor and receive approval before receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.
"The decision to receive Vaxzevria [AstraZeneca] as a booster must be made in consultation with a medical professional," the TGA said in a statement.
Queensland's hospital admissions drop
Another eight people have died after contracting COVID-19 in Queensland, as hospital admissions continue to drop with 633 currently admitted.
The latest deaths were people aged between their 60s and 90s, and only one had received a third booster shot.
Queensland recorded 5,854 new virus cases as the state releases hospital admissions figures for the peak of the Omicron wave, compared to what early modelling suggested.
In the worst-case scenario, up to 5,000 beds would have been needed for COVID-19 patients in Queensland, however the peak was just 925 in late January.
ICU numbers peaked at 71, compared to modelling of up to 500, premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Thursday.
"I'd love to say it's over, but its not," she said, foreshadowing the tail end of the current wave in early March, ahead of a potential flu season in winter.
Tasmania records one death
Tasmania has recorded an additional coronavirus death, with the state's daily case figure rising to 637.
The death, reported on Thursday, takes the state's virus toll to 23, with 10 of those occurring since borders reopened in mid-December.
There are 11 people being treated for COVID-19 in hospital, with one case in intensive care. Six positive cases are in hospital for unrelated medical conditions.
The fresh infections are an increase on Wednesday's figure of 574 and the highest since 3 February.
ACT restrictions remain as cases drop
The ACT has recorded no new deaths as the territory government extended low-level COVID-19 restrictions for a further two weeks.
Of the 5,00 new cases of COVID-19, 289 came from PCR tests while there were 211 positive rapid antigen test results recorded.
There are three fewer patients with COVID-19 being treated in hospital, down from 54 to 51 in the past day.
The number of patients in intensive care has also fallen from four to three.
It comes as the ACT government extended its public health emergency declaration for a further 90 days.
ACT chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said the extension was necessary due to the ongoing COVID-19 risk in Canberra.
"This extension also means we can be prepared in the event of a new or re-emerging strain of the virus as we head towards winter and cold and flu season," she said.
"We are cautiously optimistic about the current COVID-19 situation in the ACT."
With SBS News.
