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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Alex Crowe

Another 17 cases of COVID-19, as vax rate hits 97%

The ACT has recorded another 17 cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours up to 8pm on Thursday, as the territory hits the 97 per cent fully vaccinated mark.

It is the second day of slight jump in numbers and takes the total number of active cases to 183, after 25 cases were reported the previous day.

There are three people in hospitals in Canberra because of coronavirus, including one person in intensive care requiring a ventilator.

The ACT's vaccination rate for Canberrans aged 12 and over is now 97 per cent.

Across the border, four new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the Queanbeyan Palerang region in the last reporting period.

One of the cases was in Queanbeyan, two were in Jerrabomberra and one was in Karabar. One of the Jerrabomberra cases was under investigation on Friday, while the rest were linked to known cases.

The ACT's Health Minister on Thursday said it was too early to tell whether a spike in COVID-19 cases in Canberra would lead to an even greater surge in infections.

Rachel Stephen-Smith said a rapid increase in cases was not unexpected as Canberra eased its COVID-19 restrictions.

"It's too early to say whether this increase is the start of a trend or if it will come back down," she told reporters in Canberra.

"We expected case numbers would increase as we move around, and gather more as we move towards the Christmas period."

Around Australia

NSW has recorded 216 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm.

The state's population aged 16 years and over is now 91.5 per cent fully vaccinated, while 94.3 per cent have had their first COVID-19 vaccine shot.

Those aged between 12 and 15 years are 74.6 per cent fully vaccinated, while 80.8 per cent have had their first dose.

There are 196 COVID-19 patients in hospital, with 28 in ICU.

Victoria has recorded 1273 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths in the 24 hours to midnight.

There are 13,813 active cases of COVID-19 across the state as it celebrates its first day of eased restrictions for those fully vaccinated.

The state's population aged 12 years and over is now 88 per cent fully vaccinated, with 5842 doses administered at state-run clinics yesterday.

There are 330 COVID-19 patients in hospital, with 57 active in ICU, 58 cleared in ICU and 30 ventilated.

The total number of cases for this outbreak is now 1889.
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