An outbreak in a cancer ward at Canberra Hospital has contributed to a dramatic rise in COVID-19 hospitalisations, with a record number of people with the virus receiving treatment in local hospitals.
There were 119 people with COVID-19 in hospital in the 24 hours to Sunday at 8pm, this was up from 116 on Saturday night.
Of those, only one patient is in the ICU and none are on ventilation.
The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has risen significantly over recent days, with a jump of 20 patients over just two days.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said on Monday there had been an outbreak in a cancer ward at Canberra hospital, which had contributed to the increase.
"We do have an outbreak in one of our cancer wards in Canberra Hospital at the moment, which is obviously a significant cause of concern for those people and their families," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"That is being treated very seriously."
The ACT recorded 927 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours until Sunday at 8pm.
Of the new cases, 250 were people aged between 25 to 39 years.
MORE COVID-19 NEWS:
Sunday's new cases by age group
- 0-4 years: 43
- 5-11 years: 73
- 12-17 years: 69
- 18-24 years: 81
- 25-39 years: 250
- 40-49 years: 147
- 50-64 years: 179
- 65+ years: 85
- Total: 627
The ACT's COVID-19 death toll is 78, with four deaths recorded last week.
A record 99 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalised on Friday after Canberra Health Services said it was likely they would remain under "immense strain" for the entirety of winter.
Speaking on Friday, ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said Canberra Hospital was "completely full" while Calvary was "also very busy" as the winter rush came through sooner than expected.
ACT Health will be holding Canberra's last COVID-19 pop-up vaccine clinic on Monday due to a lack of demand.
Pfizer vaccines will be available for over 12s at Coombs Community Centre, Molonglo Health Hub from 11am to 2.30pm.
COVID-19 vaccinations
- Aged 5-11 years (1 dose): 80.6 per cent
- Aged 5-11 years (2 doses): 68.7 per cent
- Aged 5+ years (2 doses): 97.3 per cent
- Aged 16+ years (3 doses): 77.2 per cent
Around Australia
Four times as many COVID-19 patients were admitted to intensive care during Australia's third wave of the virus compared to the first two combined, new research suggests.
A higher proportion of those taken ill between late June and the beginning of November last year required ventilation and, ultimately, a higher percentage of them died.
The in-hospital mortality study was undertaken by Monash University in conjunction with the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society.
Meanwhile, an Omicron sub-variant of COVID-19 that can evade vaccine immunity is on the rise in Victoria, with authorities warning it is on track to be the state's major strain in line with virus spread in NSW and Queensland.
NSW
- Deaths: 11
- New cases: 6862
- Hospitalisations: 1507
- ICU: 55
- Ventilation: Unknown
Victoria
- Deaths: 1
- New cases: 6305
- Hospitalisations: 459
- ICU: 26
- Ventilation: 10
Queensland
- Deaths: 0
- New cases: 3260
- Hospitalisations: 542
- ICU: 8
- Ventilation: Unknown
South Australia
- TBA
Tasmania
- Deaths: 0
- New cases: 798
- Hospitalisations: 45
- ICU: 3
- Ventilation: Unknown
Western Australia
- TBA
Northern Territory
- Deaths:
- New cases: 209
- Hospitalisations: 17
- ICU: 1
- Ventilation: Unknown
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Lanie Tindale
I am a reporter at The Canberra Times, and was previously a trainee. I have covered various topics at the masthead, including courts, federal politics, breaking news, features and opinion. I previously worked in digital news. I am now a general news reporter, with a focus on health. lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au.
I am a reporter at The Canberra Times, and was previously a trainee. I have covered various topics at the masthead, including courts, federal politics, breaking news, features and opinion. I previously worked in digital news. I am now a general news reporter, with a focus on health. lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au.
