Australia reported at least 47 COVID-19 deaths, including 16 in New South Wales, 15 in Queensland and 11 in Victoria, on Thursday.
More people have died of COVID-19 in Australia this year than in the past two years.
Data from the shows as of 20 April, 6,842 people have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began a little over two years ago.
Of the 6,842 deaths, 4,603 occurred this year. Australia had reported at the end of 31 December 2021.
Hospitalisations have increased in many states over the past few days. For instance, there were 1,641 people in New South Wales hospitals on 21 April compared with 1,418 on 4 April.
Similarly, Victoria reported 444 people in hospitals compared with 305 on 4 April.
New South Wales has reported four additional XE variant cases in its ending 16 April. New cases are household members of the returned traveller diagnosed with the XE variant.
NSW Health said enhanced surveillance around this household has not detected any further spread of the XE variant.
Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory could soon follow New South Wales and Victoria in for close contacts and scraping hotel quarantine for unvaccinated travellers.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan is in seven days of isolation after a member of his family tested positive for COVID-19. Mr McGowan has tested negative.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the state tourism is bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey showed 70 per cent of tourism operators are doing better than expected, with some back to pre-pandemic levels since their borders reopened in December.
A post-COVID/long COVID recovery clinic has opened at the University of Canberra Hospital in the Australian Capital Territory.
condition usually occurs in individuals with probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection three months after the onset of infection with symptoms. It can last for at least two months and can't be explained through an alternative diagnosis.
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