Department of Health and Aged Care reduces reporting of COVID-19 trend data to monthly as residential aged care cases surge

The Department of Health and Aged Care is scaling back the reporting of COVID-19 trend data from weekly to monthly, as case numbers and outbreaks in residential aged care soar. As of 8am 2 November, there were 2,320 active COVID-19 cases in 294 residential aged care facilities across Australia. In the week up until 2 November, there were 154 new outbreaks and 13 new resident deaths. Resident cases rose more than 30% to 1,575. The number of staff cases nearly doubled, surging 46% to 745. In both NSW and VIC, there are nearly 100 homes with outbreaks. Despite the rise in cases, vaccination numbers are not rising significantly.

As of 1 November 2023, only 43.0% of residents had received a booster dose in the last six months. Only 613 residents received a booster in the last week.

From 10 November 2023, COVID-19 trend reporting will change from weekly to monthly.