Territory records 616 new COVID-19 infections; Health Minister acknowledges toll on healthcare workers

The Territory has recorded 616 (320 PCR and 296 RAT) new COVID-19 infections in the 24 hours to 8 pm last night as hospitalisations creep up once again.

There are now 165 people with the virus in hospital. Of these, two are in the ICU but no one requires ventilation.

Yesterday, there were 163 people in hospital with COVID-19.

The latest figures come as the Territory’s Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith has acknowledged the toll two-and-a-half-years of the pandemic has had on healthcare workers.

Ms Stephen-Smith said the government was “very cognisant” of the impact surges and different waves of the virus had on staff.

She said this had followed 2019’s horror influenza season as well as the bushfires and smoke.

“Our healthcare workers have been managing increased demand on our services as well as stress and anxiety. That is causing stress and that is causing burnout,” Ms Stephen-Smith said today.

The Health Minister noted a service-wide approach to wellbeing and supporting workers – including junior ones.

“I’ve heard very clearly from nurses and midwives … that skill mix is an important part of delivering care, but it is challenging. It’s challenging for ACT health services as it is for hospitals around the country.”

Ms Stephen-Smith said a reduction in the spread of respiratory illnesses was leading to a drop in the number of hours of unplanned leave for healthcare staff.

Health authorities in the Territory remain undecided about where the current wave is headed, but the health directorate acknowledged in its two most recent weekly epidemiological reports that caseloads were falling.

Nurses and healthcare staff have been holding multiple snap actions outside the Canberra Hospital in recent weeks to call for a recovery plan and better pay and working conditions.

They previously had their calls for a $3000 pandemic bonus payment rejected by the ACT Government.

There are now 4,968 known active infections in the Territory and a total of 191,457 COVID-19 cases have been recorded since the pandemic began.

Yesterday, the ACT reported 556 cases and there were 163 people in hospital with the virus.

ACT Health is providing weekly vaccination updates.

Interstate, NSW has reported seven deaths overnight and 9471 new cases of COVID-19.

There are now 2323 people in hospital with the virus and 67 people in ICUs around the state.

Victoria has reported three deaths overnight and 7678 cases of COVID-19.