On Monday, Australia reported at least 13 COVID-19 deaths, including eight in New South Wales (NSW) and two each in Western Australia (WA) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Check the latest COVID-19 trends for new cases, hospitalisations and deaths in Australia .
WA on Monday accepted the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPCC) advise that the current immune period of 12 weeks should be reduced to 28 days.
AHPCC said people who test positive for COVID-19 more than 28 days after ending isolation from their previous infection should be reported and managed as new cases.
It said BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron could drive the reinfection among those who have previously been infected with an earlier COVID-19 variant and those who are up to date with their vaccinations. Other states are soon expected to follow WA in accepting AHPCC advice.
From today (11 July), Australians aged 70 and over who test positive for COVID-19 can access antiviral drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
In addition, people aged 50 and over and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 30 and over can access these drugs if they have at least two risk factors. Moderate to severe immunocompromised people who are 18 and over can also avail these drugs.
Australians aged 30 and over can get their fourth vaccine or second booster dose from today.
Queensland Health could establish Long COVID-19 clinics in line with South Australia, NSW, Victoria, and the ACT.
Health authorities in the state are currently managing an active COVID-19 outbreak on Coral Princess, which is currently berthed in Brisbane.
SA Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the daily new infections could go higher than 6,000 in coming weeks. The state is currently getting between 3,000 to 4,000 daily new infections.
World Health Organization's infectious disease epidemiologist, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, tweeted that COVID-19 deaths globally are at a similar level to March 2020.
"We must remember that in 3/20, we knew very little about this virus, and we had no treatments and no vaccines," Dr Van Kerkhove said.
"Now, in July 2022, we have several life-saving interventions that we are not utilising effectively nor consistently globally. Deaths should be far lower at this point in the pandemic."
Dr Van Kerkhove said the pandemic is far from over and urged people to be vigilant, wear a mask, distance, get vaccinated, open windows, wash hands, test, isolate if infected, quarantine if contact and be informed.
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