Here’s a quick wrap of the COVID-19 news and case numbers from each Australian jurisdiction for the past week, as reported on Friday, June 2, 2023.
The states and territories are now reporting their COVID-19 statistics weekly, instead of through the daily updates that were provided from the early days of the pandemic.
This story will be updated throughout the day, so if you do not see your state or territory, check back later.
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New South Wales
The state has recorded 13,480 new COVID-19 cases, down from last week’s total of 14,409.
There are 1,459 cases in hospital with the virus, 34 of those in intensive care.
There were 64 new deaths announced today.
Victoria
There have been 8,669 new COVID-19 cases in Victoria this week, down significantly from last week’s total of 10,642 cases.
The state has 464 people in hospital with COVID-19, and 14 in intensive care.
There were 50 new deaths recorded.
Northern Territory
There have been 178 new COVID-19 cases recorded in the Northern Territory, down from 203 last week.
The Northern Territory currently has nine patients in hospital.
There were no new deaths recorded this week.
One thing to know: How do I know if I have long COVID?
Yesterday officially marked the first day of winter in Australia, but we’re already in the thick of an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Some people take longer than others to bounce back after a bout of illness, but how do you tell the difference between a slow recovery and long COVID?
Scientists still don’t know what causes it, how to treat it — or even how to best diagnose it.
So how do we know if we have long COVID?
Let’s unpack what we know about COVID’s lasting shadow.
New study among First Nations Australians shows effective immune response after COVID-19 vaccines
In an Australian first, researchers have analysed the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for First Nations peoples, with results showing effective immune responses.
Researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in partnership with the Menzies School of Health Research looked at the immune responses of 58 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders along with 39 non-Indigenous Australians all from Darwin.
The study was the first of its kind looking specifically at First Nations peoples and their reactions to COVID vaccines, filling a gap in research after the cohort was not included in initial COVID-19 clinical trials.
The researchers found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants showed a strong antibody and T-cell response, along with high levels of antibodies binding to the virus, after two mRNA vaccine doses.
One last thing: China’s ‘controllable’ COVID-19 surge expected to peak at 65 million cases per week
Despite warnings a new wave of coronavirus driven by the latest XBB variants could peak at up to 65 million cases per week, China’s health authorities say the situation remains stable and under control.
Respected respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan told a conference in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou last week modelling indicated a new wave had begun in April and that up to 40 million people per week were already likely being infected during May.
The increase in cases was “expected”, he said, and would likely peak in June with 65 million new cases per week.
Dr Zhong said health authorities had given preliminary approval for two new XBB-specific vaccines that would be released soon.
The current wave is the second since China suddenly abandoned the strict policy of COVID-zero — which had suppressed the virus for nearly three years using harsh lockdowns and frequent testing — in December.
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