"A new wave of transmission may have begun" for the COVID-19 virus, according to the Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report.

The epicentre of the wave appears to be in Victoria, with nearly 100 Victorian aged care homes in the grips of a COVID-19 outbreak during the week to 21 November 2024. New outbreaks were reported in 39 homes during the week.

NSW had 35 outbreaks in aged care homes, 19 more than reported in the previous week. In Victoria, 461 residents had the virus during the week, more than double the 177 residents in NSW.

Across the country, there were outbreaks in 204 aged care homes, and more than 1,000 aged care residents and 368 staff were recorded with the virus. 12 aged care residents died from COVID-19 during the week, taking total aged care resident deaths since the start of the pandemic to 7,138.

The rise in COVID-19 numbers comes as influenza cases ease after peaking in July. Between 21 October to 17 November 2024, there were 682 influenza cases recorded for people aged 70 and over, compared with 3,923 in between 1 July 2024 and 14 July 2024.

The Australian Government declared the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic "finished" in September 2022 and removed all restrictions including the requirement to isolate if one was infected from 14 October 2022.