Some media outlets have reported no COVID-19 deaths in Australia in March, as aged care residents continued to die from the virus.
In the week to 11 April 2024, 10 aged care residents died from COVID-19. This year so far, more than 300 residents have died from the virus.
The Department of Health and Aged Care's data on COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care is a weekly report based on data self-reported by aged care providers to the Department. Aged Care providers report deaths where a resident has been confirmed as COVID-19 positive, and has passed away. The data is not linked to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), which provides data for the broader population.
"There has been some recent reporting of low or zero COVID-19 associated deaths in Australia in March 2024 based on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care’s COVID-19 reporting web page," a spokesperson for the Department told The SOURCE.
"This webpage is updated on a monthly basis, and the data on COVID-19 associated deaths is based on reporting from state and territories to the NNDSS.
"As such, recent low values should be treated with caution as they may be updated as new data are received from jurisdictions, such as where registry or coronial data becomes available."
There was a jump in the number of COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care homes in the week to 11 April 2024. There were 209 outbreaks, 33 more than the previous week. However, the number of residents with COVID-19 continues to gradually decline. At 8am on 11 April 2024, there were 1,150 COVID-19 cases in residential aged care among residents and staff, 78 fewer than the previous week.
