The Latest Breaking News on COVID-19

Latest data hints masks may not be as beneficial as people previously thought when fighting against the variant

As many 6,050 fresh Covid-19 infections were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours, marking a significant jump from Thursday's tally of 5,335 cases. Read further on Dynamite News:

In a world moving on from the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and medical offices have been the last bastions of mandatory masking. But new research finds that in communities where pandemic precautions have been largely abandoned, mask mandates in healthcare settings do little to prevent coronavirus infections among patients.

Here's a quick wrap of the COVID-19 news and case numbers from each Australian jurisdiction from the past week.

Items touched by infected person can act as vector for transmission of the virus

The vaccine has been approved for use in children age between six months and four years old

The JCVI has advised that clinically vulnerable children aged six months to four years should be offered the vaccincation.

Eligible children between six months and four years old will be offered jab from June

Only vulnerable children aged six months to four years will be offered the Covid-19 vaccine

More than 13,000 beds are being taken up by patients who no longer need to be in hospital.

Trikafta was added to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme for people over 11 years of age a year ago. Now, it will be available at an affordable price for younger children too, in a hard-fought win for families.