Aged care providers are calling for urgent action to protect residents and staff from a winter COVID-19 wave which is hitting more than one third of the nation's facilities.
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Aged & Community Care Providers Association said 6000 residents and 3400 staff were infected in 1013 facilities.
The association's interim chief executive Paul Sadler said 10-15 per cent of staff are already isolating or quarantining at home, and the coming weeks will put intense pressure on residents and workers.
"(The association) is concerned that anywhere up to two-thirds of aged care homes could be affected by active outbreaks over coming weeks," he said in a statement on Sunday.
"The increased availability in surge workforce including the Australian Defence Force over the past week has been welcome, but there is still a shortfall.
"The reality is we can't leave older people without adequate levels of care for too long."
Mr Sadler said 2301 residents have died in 2022, including 114 in the past week.
He called for more support for a surge workforce, including ADF personnel, until at least September.
Over the longer term, Mr Sadler said the federal government must plan to fix chronic workforce shortfalls, prepare for future outbreaks and implement reforms recommended by the recent royal commission into aged care.
"The coming weeks are critical for aged care. We must do all we can to put the protection of older people first and support our aged care workers," he said.
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells has recently highlighted the importance of a unified approach to preventing the further spread of the virus in the sector.
"I enthusiastically encourage these matters to go back to national cabinet so we can get a national approach to this," she said.
As the latest wave continues to sweep the nation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conceded that it is understandable some Australians are confused about the latest advice for wearing face masks.
While there is no fresh mask mandate, most states and territories are advocating their use indoors or when social distancing is not possible.
"The issue of mandates, of course, is a matter for (which) state and territory governments have been responsible," the prime minister said on Sunday.
Australia's death toll has surpassed 11,000, rising by 36 on Sunday.
NSW reported 14 deaths, Victoria 12, seven in Western Australia, two in Tasmania and one in South Australia.
As of Sunday, 71.1 per cent of eligible Australians had received three or more vaccine doses.
Booster coverage includes 95.3 per cent of eligible aged care residents.
Almost 55 per cent of eligible Indigenous people have received three or more vaccine doses.
As for fourth doses, 31.5 per cent of the eligible population aged 30 and over have received a winter booster.
The Victorian government is continuing to provide free rapid antigen tests to those who are eligible with disability, extending support to some of the most vulnerable in the community until the end of September.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:
* VIC: 9501 cases, 12 deaths, 849 in hospital with 27 in ICU
* NSW: 12,820 cases, 14 deaths, 2260 in hospital with 56 in ICU
* QLD: 5804 cases, 1042 in hospital with 19 in ICU
* TAS: 1155 cases, two deaths, 174 in hospital with three in ICU
* ACT: 712 cases, 155 in hospital with one in ICU
* WA: 4356 cases, seven deaths (dating back to July 17), 437 in hospital with 23 in ICU
* SA: 3340 cases, one death, 374 in hospital with 12 in ICU
* NT: 355 cases, 71 in hospital.
Australian Associated Press
