COVID-19 cases in residential aged care have soared past 1000, as the industry braces for a possible new wave.
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The latest data shows the number of active cases among residents has nearly doubled in the past eight weeks.
There were 121 new outbreaks, 20 resident deaths and 1207 combined new resident and staff cases reported between March 30 and April 6, according to the Department of Health and Aged Care.
NSW has the most active outbreaks in aged care homes with 74, followed by Victoria with 53 and Queensland with 39.
Aged and Community Care Providers Association chief executive Tom Symondson said COVID-19 remained a "major public health issue" for aged care providers.
"Even though Australians have largely returned to normal living with COVID-19 in the community since restrictions were lifted in late 2022, the threat of infection remains a very real risk among the vulnerable, particularly among older people," he said.
"Since the removal of mandated restrictions, the onus has been on aged care providers to implement rules for visitors to loved ones in care, including requesting where necessary visitors to wear a mask and take a [rapid antigen test]."
Aged care providers prepared for outbreaks
In a week, 689 shifts were covered by workforce surge staff in residential aged care services affected by COVID-19.
"Aged care providers are reassured by the commitment from the Federal Government to continuing support in managing COVID-19, including the announcement last month to continue to provide support payments for aged care staff who need to isolate due to infection but who have no leave left," Mr Symondson said.
He said aged care providers were well prepared to manage outbreaks, with "a reliable supply of antivirals", PPE and arrangements for booster vaccine doses to eligible residents.
"We ask that as COVID cases increase and the flu season approaches those wishing to visit loved ones in aged care to please comply with the rules so that older, vulnerable residents are protected," he said.
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COVID-19 hospitalisations also rising
The fourth wave of the pandemic ended in late February but case numbers began to climb again in March.
In the general community, there was a further 8.4 per cent jump in average daily cases for the week ending April 3.
Victoria, the ACT and Northern Territory had the biggest surges in average daily cases, of more than 20 per cent.
The number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 is also steadily rising, also up about 8 per cent in a week.
In late March, Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said it was difficult to predict what would happen in winter.
"In terms of future COVID waves... I think we've got a ripple at the moment," he said.
Professor Kelly said what winter looked like in the northern hemisphere was "usually a good indication" of what Australia could expect.
"We saw a range of types of flu. They also saw a lot of respiratory syncytial virus RSV," Professor Kelly said.
"In fact, talking to my colleagues in the UK, the US and Canada recently, they were more concerned about that than they were about COVID."
