COVID-19: ACT records 947 new cases as daily total drops back to triple-figures

Figures released on Saturday show the ACT recorded 947 new COVID-19 infections in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, down from 1122 new cases in the previous daily reporting period.

This marks the first time since Monday that the territory's health authorities have released daily case numbers below 1000.

There were 42 people in Canberra hospitals with COVID in the latest reporting period, including three patients in intensive care. None of them are requiring ventilation.

The ACT now has 6066 active cases of coronavirus, down from the 6522 reported in Friday's daily update.

Of the new cases, 483 were reported through PCR tests and 464 via rapid antigen tests.

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The territory is on the cusp of reaching 80 per cent first dose vaccination coverage in children aged between five and 11, with the figure currently sitting at 79.9 per cent.

More than 97 per cent of Canberrans aged five and above have had two vaccine doses, while more than 72 per cent of those aged 16 and over have had a booster.

Since the pandemic began, 39 people have died with COVID-19 in the ACT. The latest was a woman in her 90s, whose death was reported on Friday.

The total number of infections in the territory since March 2020 is 72,571.

NSW and Victoria also reported a drop in new COVID-19 cases on Saturday morning.

There were 19,843 new infections in NSW during the state's latest reporting period, down nearly 4000 from the previous daily total.

Four more people died with the virus in NSW during the 24 hours to 4pm on Friday.

In Victoria, the number of new daily infections has dropped by nearly 1000.

After reporting 9244 new COVID-19 cases in its update on Friday, the state's health authorities said on Saturday there had been another 8349 during the latest 24-hour period.

Nine more people have died with the virus in the southern state.

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