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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Hannah Neale

Daily record as 58 new cases of COVID-19 reported in ACT

People waiting for a COVID-19 PCR test at Garran. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The ACT has reached a daily record of new COVID cases, with 58 cases reported in the 24 hours to 8pm Tuesday, as testing clinics across the region face more than a four hour long wait times.

The new cases bring the active total to 174.

There are three people in hospital because of COVID, none are in intensive care.

There were 3759 negative tests received in the 24 hours to 9am Wednesday.

A parliamentary service department staff member is one of the individuals that has tested positive to COVID-19, but as with recent exposures linked to the hill, Parliament House will remain open.

"The presiding officers have been made aware of the case," a spokesperson for the Department of Parliamentary Services said.

"ACT Health is working to identify possible close contacts and exposure locations at Parliament House, and elsewhere in the ACT."

Meantime, the percentage of the eligible population who are now fully vaccinated has reached 98.4 per cent.

Around Australia

NSW has recorded 3763 COVID-19 cases and two deaths, as the state hits breaks another record for daily case numbers.

The new cases were diagnosed from 151,443 tests undertaken in the 24-hours to 8pm on Tuesday.

There are 302 patients in hospital, 40 of them in ICU.

The vaccination rate remains the same with 94.9 per cent of people aged 16 and older having had one dose, while 93.4 per cent of people are fully jabbed.

Some 81.5 per cent of people aged 12-15 have had one dose of a vaccine and 78.1 per cent have had both doses.

Victoria reported 1503 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday from 92,262 test results - the most processed in a 24-hour window since the pandemic began in early 2020.

The overwhelming demand for testing has forced at least 14 testing sites across the city to shut as of 9.45am, after reaching capacity.

Tasmania has recorded 12 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily number since it reopened borders a week ago.

The infections, reported on Wednesday, bring the island state's number of active cases to 26.

All of the active cases have been recorded since the island reopened to fully vaccinated travellers from the mainland on December 15.

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