Page 1452 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 1 June 2022
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Over the past month the COVID-19 situation across Australia has again remained relatively stable. The ACT government continues to engage with other jurisdictions to monitor the public health response and health system capacity across the country.
Importantly, since my last update there has been a change in federal government. We look forward, as the Chief Minister has said, to working with the new Albanese Labor government—a government that truly cares about people, that will not shirk its responsibilities, and that will engage with the states and territories constructively and supportively as we continue to manage the pandemic.
In the ACT, as at 8 pm on 30 May, there has been a total of 131,938 cases since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. There are 4,509 active cases, with 93 COVID patients admitted to hospital, four of whom are in intensive care. I am pleased to say that the number in hospital has come down today. Sadly, there have been 63 deaths since the start of the pandemic, and the ACT government expresses its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of these people. As at 9 am on 31 May, the ACT had conducted more than one million negative tests, and there are 1,331 individuals who have declared as household contacts in the ACT.
The COVID Care@Home program provided by Canberra Health Services has had more than 85,000 patients referred to the program since August 2021, with more than 6½ thousand patients having direct phone contact and subsequent medical assessment. Of all patients referred, more than 39,000 have accessed the optional MyChart phone app for home communication and care.
Supply of oximeters and thermometers to those deemed moderate to high risk continues, as does antiviral therapy for COVID. This is in line with the COVID-19 national task force guidelines. These medications include Paxlovid, Molnupiravir and, where necessary, intravenous Remdesivir.
The listing of these oral antiviral agents on the PBS has allowed general practice prescribing in the community. These medications have been generally well embraced by GPs and community pharmacies. I thank them from both a personal and professional perspective for supporting our continued strong response to COVID here in the ACT.
Between August 2021 and May 2022 there have been more than 120,000 infections documented, with a hospitalisation rate of between 0.2 and 0.3 per cent, which is much lower than many other developed nations. This reflects the great work that the people of the ACT have done in embracing vaccination and public health advice.
The ACT’s world-leading COVID-19 vaccination program continues to provide Canberrans with strong protection from the risks of COVID-19. I am pleased to report that in the ACT 80.6 per cent of five- to 11-year-olds have been vaccinated with a first dose of the vaccine, and 68.1 per cent are up to date with their vaccination, having received a second dose. 97.3 per cent of all Canberrans aged five years and older have now completed their primary vaccination course, and 76.6 per cent of eligible Canberrans, those aged 16 and older, have now received a booster or third dose.
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