Canberra Health Services yesterday pleaded with people to consider alternatives to attending emergency departments as the ACT’s hospitals come under pressure. Photo: ACT Government.
The Territory has reported 1038 new COVID-19 infections overnight and hospitalisations have again hit a record high.
There are now 99 people in hospital with COVID-19. Of those, one person is in ICU, but no one requires ventilation. Yesterday there were 88 people with the virus requiring care.
An “extremely busy” and under-pressure Canberra Health Services has also urged Canberrans to consider alternatives to the Emergency Department if they do not require urgent care.
Chief Operating Officer Cathie O’Neill attributed the pressure to high numbers of COVID-19 and non-COVID patients, as well as workforce challenges with many team members sick and unable to work.
Ms O’Neill said this pressure is expected to last throughout winter.
Student cohorts at five ACT public schools are learning from home today as the pandemic exacerbates the ACT’s already existing teacher shortage.
Years 1 to 4 and Year 7 and 8 students at Harrison School will return to campus next week.
Students in K to 2 at Mount Rogers Primary School, Years 1 and 2 at Isabella Plains Primary School, Years 7 and 8 at Caroline Chisholm School and Years 3 to 6 at Florey Primary School will also return to campus next week after completing their period of remote learning.
Finally, Years 5 to 8 at Amaroo School will be at home until next Tuesday (28 June). This period includes a school planning day tomorrow (24 June).
With the 1038 (555 PCR and 483 RAT) cases recorded overnight, there are now 5765 (3055 PCR and 2710 RAT) active infections in the Territory.
A total of 151,113 (90,930 PCR and 60,183 RAT) COVID-19 cases have been recorded since the pandemic began in March 2020.
Yesterday, the ACT reported 1134 new COVID-19 infections.
The double-dose vaccination rate for the ACT’s five-plus population remains 97.3 per cent and 77.2 per cent of residents aged 16 and older have received a booster.
Of ACT residents aged five to 11, 68.7 per cent have received two doses of vaccine.
Interstate, NSW has reported 14 deaths overnight and 9136 new cases of COVID-19.
There are now 1455 people in hospital with the virus and 54 people in ICUs around the state.
Victoria has reported 20 deaths overnight and 7723 cases of COVID-19.
There are now 412 people hospitalised with the virus, while 27 patients are in the state’s intensive care unit.
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