The latest COVID-19 news and case number

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, April 21, 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. 

• The Australian winter will likely see a rise in COVID cases again. The cycle of subvariants will leave us exposed and hasten the waning of immunity, writes Catherine Bennett. Read the full story here.

• As COVID-19 continues to affect the lives of Victorians, researchers and clinicians are combing through the data to help improve government decision-making and health policy. Read the full story here.

• The temperature has dropped, flu season is creeping up and COVID-19 numbers are on the rise in New South Wales. Here is what you need to know to protect yourself. Read the full story here.

• New South Wales

  The state has recorded 12,393 COVID-19 cases to 4pm Thursday, April 20, up from 9,646 cases last week.

  There are 1,139 people in hospital, up from 1,042 last week, while 26 people are in intensive care.

  There were 29 deaths announced on Friday.

  Victoria

  There have been another 6,052 COVID-19 cases, up from 5,811 cases last week.

  There are 297 cases in hospital, up from 238 last week, while 19 people are in ICU.

  There were 40 deaths announced on Friday. 

  Queensland

  Queensland has recorded 4,060 new COVID-19 cases in the past week, up from 3,472 cases last week.

  There are 236 people in hospital with the virus, five of whom are in intensive care.

  The state has recorded an additional 16 deaths this week.

  South Australia

  There have been 2,509 new COVID-19 cases in South Australia this week, up from 3,173 last week.

  The state has recorded 6 deaths.

  ACT

  The ACT has recorded 581 new cases of COVID-19 and one death.

  There are 38 people in hospital, including one in ICU.

  One thing to know: Study finds long COVID symptoms 'on par' with influenza

  If you missed it a little earlier this week, a Queensland Health study found that in Queensland's highly vaccinated population infected with Omicron "long COVID may manifest as a post-viral syndrome of no greater incidence or severity than seasonal influenza after 12 weeks".

  It found that out of 2,195 adults diagnosed with COVID-19, 21.4 per cent self-reported ongoing symptoms at 12 weeks and 4.1 per cent were classified as having "moderate to severe functional limitations".

  The numbers were similar for influenza.

  But infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist Paul Griffin said while the study is "perhaps a good preliminary report" it used a "very small sample size" and was not peer reviewed.