Image by AdobeStock
Australia has recorded 51 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 48 hours, according to figures updated as at 9am AEST on Wednesday, May 6.
Statistics for new cases that are in the process of being reported on Wednesday show 17 new infections in Victoria, including a further four people who are connected to the large outbreak at the Cedar Meats plant in Melbourne.
Victoria’s treasurer, Tim Pallas, said seven of the new cases are overseas travellers in mandatory quarantine. He added that there are now eight people with coronavirus in hospital in Victoria, six in intensive care.
In NSW there are nine infections, with five still under investigation.
In Tasmania there are two new infections, including one healthcare worker. Tasmania’s health minister, Sarah Courtney, said one patient was a direct contact of an existing case and the healthcare worker was from Launceston General Hospital. Courtney noted that the latter had not been at work for nearly two weeks.
Queensland and ACT reported no new cases and other states and territories have yet to confirm their daily figures.
According to the federal health minister, Greg Hunt, there are still 66 people with Covid-19 in hospitals across Australia, including 27 in ICU and 18 on ventilators.
To date, state and territory health authorities have reported 6 875 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, including 97 deaths. A total of 5 889 have been reported as recovered from the infection.
Over the past week there has been an average of 17 new cases reported each day. Of the newly reported cases, the majority have been from Victoria.
COVID-19 cases were reported across all ages. The average age of all cases is 48 years and the average age of deaths is 80 years. There is a relatively equal ratio of male-to-female cases across most age groups.
According to the national Department of Health, “there has been a steady and so far sustained decline in cases following a peak in cases at the end of March. Of cases with a reported place of acquisition, 64% have recent international travel history, including over 1 200 cases associated with cruise ships”.
The department notes that “the overall proportion of cases under investigation in each state and territory is relatively low, indicating that public health actions, including case identification and contact tracing, is occurring in a timely manner”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has reported a phone call from the Queen to wish Australians well in dealing with the coronavirus, as well as the bushfires and drought.
“The Queen was very interested to hear about our progress in combating Covid-19 and was so pleased we have managed to prevent the terrible impacts,” Morrison said in an Instagram post.