Australia recorded the most COVID-related deaths since February as the World Health Organisation declared an end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency.
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There were 144 new deaths reported to health authorities in the week ending May 5, up 22 per cent on the previous week.
More than 30,000 new cases were reported nationwide but the upward trend has slowed after a spike in March.
The ACT recorded a 31 per cent jump in reported cases while NSW and Victoria led the rise in deaths with 53 and 44 respectively.
The trend in residential aged care has also turned with a drop in the number of active cases and outbreaks for the first time since early March.
The situation globally with growing population immunity, decreasing mortality and easing pressure on health systems, led to WHO declaring COVID-19 was no longer a global health emergency.
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WHO declares global health emergency is over
WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus announced the end of the emergency "with great hope" on May 5.
"However, that does not mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat.
"This virus is here to stay. It is still killing, and it's still changing."
He said the "worst thing" would be for countries to let down their guard or send a message that COVID-19 is "nothing to worry about".
"It is time for countries to transition from emergency mode to managing COVID-19 alongside other infectious diseases," Dr Tedros said.
WHO declared the public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, when there were fewer than 100 reported cases outside China.
Nearly 7 million COVID-19 deaths have been reported to WHO but Dr Tedros said the death toll would be at least 20 million.
He also acknowledged the social and economic upheaval during the pandemic, and the millions living with the "debilitating effects" of Long-COVID.
