On Thursday, Australia reported at least 53 COVID-19 deaths, including 23 in New South Wales, 17 in Victoria and 10 in Queensland. Also, Western Australia reported seven historical deaths.
Hospitalisations continue to soar in Queensland. On Thursday, the state reported 642 people with COVID-19 in hospitals compared with 597 on Wednesday. It is also the highest number of people with COVID-19 in Queensland hospitals in the past three months.
The Australian Capital Territory has again broken its previous record for the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalisations. It reported 122 people with COVID-19 in hospitals on Thursday compared with 116 on Wednesday.
Check the latest COVID-19 trends for new cases, hospitalisations and deaths in Australia .
On Thursday, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced a review into COVID-19 vaccine purchase by the previous Coalition government as a matter of "some urgency".
Mr Butler said he would like the review of current contracts and existing stocks in weeks.
The Health Minister said the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is reviewing applications for vaccines that specifically target Omicron's sub-variants.
Mr Butler said they have allowed Pfizer to submit an application for the review of its vaccine for children under five. Currently, the TGA is reviewing a similar application from Moderna.
NSW has extended the deadline for free flu shots for its residents until 17 July. Data shows only one in four children under five has had a flu shot in the state.
Residents in WA can now get their free flu vaccine until 31 July.
In its latest weekly update, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the number of weekly COVID-19 cases has increased for the third consecutive week. There was an 18 per cent increase last week compared to the week before.
BA.5 cases increased from 28 per cent to 43 per cent globally.
South Australia is closing vaccination clinics at Munno Para on 1 July and Adelaide Myer Centre, Kilkenny and Enfield on 2 July. COVID-19 vaccinations are still available at GPs, pharmacies or other SA Health vaccination clinics.
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