COVID-19 update: Australia nears 10,000 deaths as new changes come into effect from 1 July

This is your update on COVID-19 in Australia for 1 July.

AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

People queue at Centrelink at Darlinghurst in Sydney. (file) Source: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

On Friday, Australia reported at least 31 COVID-19 deaths, including 12 in Victoria, nine in New South Wales and six in Queensland. Also, Western Australia reported two historical deaths.

Data shows 9,897 people with COVID-19 have died in Australia since the pandemic began in January 2020. The figure is expected to cross the 10,000 mark over the weekend.
Health Minister Mark Butler is meeting with state and territory health ministers today. He is expected to talk about access to COVID-19 treatments for vulnerable people.

Mr Butler has warned of a new wave as the number of new infections, hospitalisations and ICU admissions have risen in eastern Australia.

The federal government is ending the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment scheme from today. The government has paid more than $1.89 billion to people across the country since the scheme was introduced in August 2020.

On Friday, the Northern Territory closed its COVID-19 vaccination centres due to high vaccination rates. However, vaccines are still available at pharmacies, Aboriginal health clinics and GPs.

Tasmania ended its Public Health Emergency Declaration at 12:01 am today. However, face masks are still mandated in public hospitals.

On Thursday, the Australian Capital Territory ended its Equity to Access COVID-19 vaccination program, offering in-home vaccinations to vulnerable people.

Some states and territories have decided to discontinue sharing their daily COVID-19 numbers on social media from 1 July.

In its latest weekly update, NSW Health reported a seven per cent increase in PCR testing over the previous week. Of the 104 COVID-19 deaths, only 72 (69%) people had received their third dose.

The proportion of specimens having either BA.4 or BA.5 sub-lineage has increased from 32 per cent to 35 per cent in NSW.

Queenslanders can now get their free flu vaccinations until 17 July.






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3 min read
Published 1 July 2022 1:05pm
Updated 1 July 2022 1:24pm


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