Another 38 COVID-19 deaths in Australia as isolating NSW residents told to follow flood evacuation orders
Australia has recorded another 38 COVID-19-related deaths. Victoria recorded 23 fatalities, there were nine in NSW and six people lost their lives in Queensland. In NSW, people who are isolating because of the virus have been told to follow orders to evacuate to escape rising flood waters
Around 500,000 people in NSW are now subject to an evacuation order or warning as the state grapples with an unprecedented flood crisis.
Acting Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale says anyone isolating because of COVID-19 must evacuate if they are ordered to do so by the State Emergency Service.
“If you are told to evacuate, you must evacuate,” she said on Thursday.
“Under no circumstances should you remain in self-isolation at your residence – your safety is our highest concern and an emergency evacuation is a valid reason to leave your home.”
It’s the second consecutive day cases have inched above 10,000 after two weeks of cases tracking below that benchmark.
Meanwhile, Victoria reported 7,093 new COVID-19 infections.
The new cases include 4,861 from rapid antigen tests and 2232 from PCR lab tests, the health department confirmed on Thursday.
There are 262 Victorians in hospital with COVID-19, of whom 33 are in intensive care and five on ventilation.
Some 59.8 per cent of Victorian adults have received three vaccine doses.
There are 41,660 active cases in the state.
What’s happening elsewhere?
Queensland has recorded six COVID-19 deaths and 6,479 new cases with hundreds still in hospital with the virus.
There are 315 patients being treated for COVID-19 in hospital and another 26 in intensive care with 30,126 active cases across the state.
The latest figures show 92.9 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have received one dose of a vaccine, while 90.9 per cent have had two.
