29 March 2022

New ACT COVID-19 cases jump to above 1000; weekly school cases steady

| Lottie Twyford
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School crossing

Last week, 1501 cases of COVID-19 were reported in 126 schools in the Territory. Photo: File.

In what seems to be becoming a ‘Tuesday trend’, new COVID-19 infections have jumped to 1063 in the 24 hours to 8 pm last, a massive increase from Monday’s low of 701 infections. Last week, cases jumped from 898 on Monday to 1014 on Tuesday.

It’s unclear what is driving these surges, but they could be attributed to increased movement in the community over the weekend and post-weekend testing.

The Education Directorate said that in the week ending Sunday, 27 March, 1501 cases of COVID-19 were reported to 126 public and non-government schools in the ACT.

This is only slightly down on the previous week when 1531 infections were reported to 126 schools.

Only 11 schools did not report a COVID-19 case in the last week.

The 1531 infections account for just less than 20 per cent of all COVID-19 cases recorded in the Territory last week.

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Hospitalisations have once again continued to trend upwards.

There are now 49 patients with COVID-19 in the Territory’s hospitals. Of these, four are in ICU, but none require ventilation.

Yesterday, there were 46 COVID-19 patients in hospital. Four of these were in ICU, but none required ventilation.

The 1063 (464 PCR, 599 RAT) new cases of COVID-19 reported this morning take the Territory’s local active caseload to 5972 (3019 PCR and 2953 RAT).

As of yesterday, the double-dose vaccination rate for the ACT’s five-plus population was 97.8 per cent, and 72.8 per cent of residents aged 16 and older have received a booster.

Of ACT residents aged five to 11, 48.6 per cent had received two doses.

Since the pandemic began, 75,421 (48,775 PCR and 26,646 RAT) cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the ACT.

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Interstate, NSW has reported nine deaths overnight and 21,494 new cases.

There are now 1283 people in hospital with the virus and 53 people in ICUs around the state.

Victoria has reported five new deaths overnight and an additional 10,916 cases of COVID-19.

There are now 284 people hospitalised with the virus, while 33 patients are in the state’s intensive care units.

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