A record number of Australians are in hospital with COVID, surpassing the peak earlier this year, Department of Health figures show.
On Monday, national data showed 5,433 people were in hospital with the virus, up from 5,391 cases recorded in January.
Wide circulation of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants has seen the number of people hospitalized with COVID rise dramatically.
However, while hospitalization rates are rising rapidly across the country, the number of people in intensive care (ICU) has fallen significantly.
There are now 166 cases in the ICU compared to a peak of 425 patients on January 19.
Why are ICU admissions falling?
Australian Medical Association (AMA) vice-president Chris Moy says a number of factors have contributed to the decline in ICU admissions.
“There are three main reasons why we are not seeing higher ICU rates, the nature of the virus, high vaccination rates and treatment both antivirally and with post-hospital management,” said the Dr. Moy on ABC News.
Dr Moy says the combination of a milder variant, vaccines and management treatments such as antivirals means fewer people are getting sick enough to be admitted to the ICU.
But Dr Moy cautioned against taking a low number of ICUs as a good indicator.
“That doesn’t mean it’s not a complete disaster when it comes to how many people are in the hospital,” he said.
“People are still bad enough to end up in hospital and it’s packed to capacity at the moment, which poses a huge risk to other patients.”
How many people are in the hospital with COVID-19 nationwide?
Of the 161 people in the ICU as of Monday, 41 require a ventilator. (Australian Department of Health)
Click the links below to go directly to your state or territory:
ACT hospitalizations increase as cases increase
Although the 3,000-a-day scenario that the model suggested earlier this month has not yet been reached, hospitalizations have been steadily rising in the ACT.
Due to the current high demand for healthcare and the high number of sick staff, Canberra Health Services is asking the community to consider their need to attend hospital with non-life threatening illnesses.
ACT health director Kerryn Coleman says peak cases could still be waiting for the ACT in early August.
“We need to use our smart COVID behaviors again to continue to help protect our community as this new wave approaches and makes its way across Canberra and Australia,” Dr Coleman said.
Here’s what ACT reported on Tuesday:
- 151 hospitalizations, one in ICU and none on ventilators
- There are no new deaths
Flu hospitalizations give way to COVID cases in NSW
While flu cases are on the decline in NSW, the state is bracing for another wave of COVID in hospitals in the coming weeks.
Health director Kerry Chant said the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants “were circulating widely in New South Wales”.
Here’s what NSW reported on Tuesday:
- 2,344 hospitalizations, with 66 people in ICU and 15 requiring ventilation
- 30 new deaths
NT health experts are “alarmed” by the latest spike
The Territory’s infection rate is growing at a per capita rate higher than the national average, which is causing hospitalizations to increase.
John Paterson, chief executive of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliances of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) called for stricter preventative measures to deal with the “alarming” increase.
“We need to seriously consider perhaps some mandatory public health measures, especially for our most at-risk population and members of our community,” he said.
Here’s what the NT reported on Tuesday:
- 71 hospitalizations with one in ICU
- There are no new deaths
QLD accumulates more than 1,000 hospitalizations
Queensland’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have topped 1,000 for the first time.
Hospitalizations for COVID now outnumber the total number of beds at the state’s largest hospital, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles said there were increased plans for hospitals to deal with the surge in COVID cases, including rescheduling appointments.
“This number of hospitalizations, while high, is well within the range that has been predicted for this surge planning which means our hospitals know what to do with this number of patients,” Miles said.
Here’s what QLD reported on Tuesday:
- 1,123 hospitalizations with 31 in ICU
- 21 new deaths
SA hospitalizations hit new record, but masks aren’t coming back
There are currently 284 South Australians in hospital with COVID, the highest number since the pandemic began.
Almost three-quarters of new cases recorded in SA are Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, but SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the reintroduction of broad mask mandates was not currently being considered.
“It’s not something we want to compete in again,” he said.
“We are now in a different phase of the pandemic, we place great value now on national coherence.”
This is what SA reported on Tuesday:
- 384 hospitalizations with 11 people in ICU
- 19 new deaths
Tas hospitalizations are increasing
Hospital patients with COVID in Tasmania have increased fivefold in the past month and hospitals across the state have stepped up their escalation plans.
Nurses at the Royal Hobart Hospital have threatened to strike over mounting pressure.
Here’s what Tasmania reported on Tuesday:
- 177 hospitalizations with three in ICU
- Two new deaths
Hospital income in Victoria is increasing
Victoria’s COVID hospital admissions have increased by more than 80% over the past three weeks.
The AMA’s Dr Chris Moy said the situation posed a huge threat to the hospital system and the community.
“I haven’t heard health authorities so concerned behind the scenes for a long time,” Dr Moy told ABC News Breakfast.
Here’s what Victoria reported on Tuesday:
- 869 hospitalizations, 39 in ICU and 12 requiring ventilation
- 40 new deaths
WA hospitalizations are trending down, but the peak is still coming
After recording a recent peak of 7,901 new infections, the seven-day average of infections is now trending downward.
Despite this, the state health director maintains that the current peak is still to come.
“The number of cases may vary depending on the spread and testing rates within the community,” said Dr Andrew Robertson.
“Western Australia is still forecast to peak in the coming weeks.”
Here’s what WA reported on Tuesday:
- 457 hospitalizations with 17 in ICU
- Four new deaths
Space for play or pause, M for mute, left and right arrows for search, up and down arrows for volume.
What you need to know about the coronavirus:
Loading form…