The number of COVID-19 cases among aged care residents and staff is beginning to fall, yet the number of deaths continues to climb.
Sadly 89 residents were reported to have died from COVID-19 between 28 April and 5 May, which comes after 85 died the week before – a total of 174.
3,408 aged care residents and 2,047 staff currently have tested positive to COVID-19 in active outbreaks (more than one case).
Of the residents:
- 1,155 are in NSW;
- 954 in Victoria;
- 440 in SA;
- 386 in QLD;
- 298 in WA;
- 108 in TAS;
- 62 in the ACT; and
- 5 in the NT.
Overall, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that reached Australia in November last year has killed more people this year than in the previous two years of the pandemic – despite high rates of vaccination and scientific evidence that the variant is less severe than the previous Delta strain.
The Commonwealth Department of Health’s vaccination rollout has seen 90.8% of residents (159,418) having received three or more doses of vaccine, as of Tuesday. A total of 205,900 doses of the fourth winter COVID dose, meant for aged care residents and other vulnerable groups, were given last week, making 706,824 winter doses to date.
