On Wednesday, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly informed a Senate estimates hearing that Australian hospitals were "coping well" with the current COVID-19 wave.
He said the Australian health system is well placed to handle new variants in future.
Professor Kelly said Australia would focus more on reducing the risk of people developing severe illness than reducing transmission in future.
New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Brad Hazzard has tested positive for COVID-19. Mr Hazzard is fully vaccinated and plans to attend work meetings virtually.
The state has registered an increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19 and deaths. On Wednesday, it reported 24,151 new cases and 15 deaths compared to 19,183 new cases and 12 deaths on Tuesday.
Victoria to distribute free 16 million rapid antigen test kits from this week to students, staff and children across the education system until at least the first four weeks of Term 2.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged state premiers to ease isolation rules for close contacts despite warnings that cases could rise in winter.
Australian health authorities are closely monitoring the global COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of a new COVID variant 'XE'. It is believed the new variant is a cross between BA.1, the original strain of Omicron, and BA.2, known as 'stealth Omicron'.
XE was first detected in the UK three months ago. Researchers believe it could be 10 per cent more transmissible than BA.2, but more research is needed.
The Northern Territory has eased some . For example, residents are no longer required proof of vaccine to enter bars, pubs, nightclubs, restaurants, casinos, cinemas and theatres.
Australian epidemiologists believe the actual number of COVID-19 cases in the country could be much higher for many reasons, including asymptomatic people and those who don't take a RAT or PCR test.
The has suspended the supply of Covaxin, a COVID-19 vaccine, after identifying 'deficiencies in good manufacturing practices.' It asked countries using this vaccine to take appropriate measures.
Australia accepts Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) vaccine for travel purposes.
COVID-19 Australian Stats for 6 April 2022
New South Wales: 24,151 new cases, 1,444 in hospital, 51 in ICU and 15 deaths
Victoria: 12,150 new cases, 331 in hospital, 16 in ICU and three deaths
Queensland: 8,534 new cases, 468 in hospital, 14 in ICU and one death
Western Australia: 8,499 new cases, 259 in hospital, nine in ICU and five deaths, which includes four historical deaths
Tasmania: 2,408 new cases, 39 in hospital, one in ICU and one death
Northern Territory: 513 new cases, 20 in hospital, zero in ICU and zero death
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