Australia, insurance, car, home, live, holidays

Testing at Maroubra’s Heffron Park this week.Credit:Louise Kennerley

Children and teenagers aged 10 to 19 accounted for 4160 of the infections,while under-10s reported 2441 positive tests. There were 3206 cases in people in their 40s and 3048 cases in people in their 30s.

Fewer than 1600 new cases were reported in over-60s.

The number of COVID-positive people in hospital has risen slightly over the past two weeks,after previously declining.

As of 4pm Friday,there were 1090 people who had tested positive to COVID-19 in the state’s hospitals,including 29 in intensive care. There were 966 people with the virus in hospital last Saturday,although on that day there were 40 COVID-positive people in intensive care.

Data from NSW Health’s most recent COVID-19 surveillance report showed 75 per cent of infections by the week ending March 12 were estimated to be Omicron’s BA.2 variant,anew sub-variant of the virus which is considered to be 25 to 30 per cent more transmissible than earlier Omicron infections.

The report said cases had increased in metropolitan Sydney over the past week,but case rates in rural and regional local health districts have remained stable.

Authorities at Northern NSW Local Health District last week expressed concern that cases in that region are likely being under-reported,due to the flood emergency.

There were 12 deaths from the virus reported in NSW,the highest number since February 24.

They included two men in their 50s. Both were unvaccinated and had significant underlying health conditions,a NSW Health spokesperson said.

Three of the other people who died were aged in their 70s,four people were aged in their 80s and three people were aged in their 90s. Three had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine,three people had received two doses and two were not vaccinated.

“Older age is a significant risk factor for serious illness and death for COVID-19,particularly when combined with significant underlying health conditions,” the spokesperson said.

As cases rise across the country,the number of aged care facilities with active cases has also increased.

Data released by the federal government on Friday night showed 360 Australian aged care facilities were experiencing an active outbreak of COVID-19 – well below the high of more than 1200 outbreaks at once during the nation’s first Omicron wave in January,but an increase from 210 active outbreaks last week.

Nine of the 41 people who died from COVID-19 in NSW during the week ending March 12 were aged care residents.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interestingstories,analysis and insights.Sign up here.

License this article