Australia reported fewer COVID-19 deaths and new cases on Monday. New South Wales and Victoria reported four deaths each, and Queensland registered two deaths.
Check the latest COVID-19 trends for new cases, hospitalisations and deaths in Australia here.
From 6 pm Thursday 28 April, Queenslanders are no longer required to quarantine as long as they:
- do not have COVID-19 symptoms
- test negative every second day for a week from the day of becoming a close contact (day 0, 2, 4 and 6)
- wear a mask outside the home for seven days
- do not visit any vulnerable settings (hospitals, residential aged care facilities, disability accommodation services, corrective services facilities and detention centres) for seven days
- let their employer know they are a close contact and work from home if possible.
On 30 April, South Australia could become the next state to drop the requirement for close contact isolation after Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria.
New South Wales has decided to stop issuing its daily media statement on COVID-19 statistics from today, which many believe could be another sign of returning to normalcy.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly backed Pfizer's oral pill Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at the highest risk of hospital admission. The WHO has called it the 'best therapeutic choice' for high-risk patients.
The Australian government will make Paxlovid available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 May.
Find a COVID-19 testing clinic
Register your RAT results here, if you're positive