On Thursday, Australia reported at least 125 COVID-19 deaths, including 37 in Victoria, 34 in New South Wales (NSW) and 27 in Queensland.
South Australia reported 17 deaths between 13 April 2022 and 27 July 2022.
Check the latest COVID-19 trends for new cases, hospitalisations and deaths in Australia .
Australia's Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has declared monkeypox (MPX) a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance, requiring interventions and public messaging.
The announcement follows the World Health Organization (WHO) directive declaring MPX a public health emergency of international concern or pandemic similar to COVID-19.
Professor Kelly said MPX is far less harmful than COVID-19 and not transmitted as COVID-19.
Australia has identified 44 MPX cases in returned travellers.
WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more than 18,000 MPX cases and five deaths had been reported from 78 countries.
He said 98 per cent of cases are among men who have sex with men. However, MPX can spread in households through close contact between people, such as hugging and kissing, and on contaminated towels or bedding.
Most MPX cases in Australia are among people aged 21 to 40.
In its latest weekly report, NSW Health noted the rate of COVID-19 infections per 100,000 population has increased across the state. The greatest rise was noticed in people aged 90 and over.
NSW Health said the rate was lowest in children and teenagers, but it's increasing with schools reopening. The current peak in cases and hospitalisations is expected in mid to late August.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said the state recruited 700 paramedics last year in its single largest recruitment drive. They are on track to recruit the same number this year to ease pressure on the healthcare system.
SA has opened a fifth respiratory clinic at Kilkenny in Adelaide to deal with the current Omicron wave and flu infections.
The Western Pacific Region, which includes Australia, Japan and Korea, has reported a 52 per cent increase in COVID-19 cases over the previous week, the WHO said in its latest weekly report.
The US, Germany, Italy and France reported the highest weekly infections globally.
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