Australia has recorded 31 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 48 hours, according to figures updated as at 9:29 PM AEST on Wednesday, May 13.
This represents approximately 0.4% of all cases recorded in Australia
Statistics for new daily cases show seven in Victoria and six in NSW. Other states and territories recorded no new infections.
The national death toll rose to 98 after the 22nd fatality linked to Ruby Princess cruise ship. The NSW chief medical officer, Dr Kerry Chant, reported that an 81-year-old woman, who had tested positive for Covid-19, died overnight. She had been a passenger on the ship and disembarked on 19 March.
More investigations at Cedar Meats, which has 88 cases
Nearly half of new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Australia in the past two weeks can be tracked to two specific outbreaks. One is at the Newmarch House nursing home in Sydney and the other is at the Cedar Meats factory in Melbourne.
There are now 88 confirmed infections at Cedar Meats and on Wednesday, 13 May Worksafe confirmed it was investigating the spread of COVID-19 at the facility.
“WorkSafe is working with the Department of Health and Human Service to develop appropriate industry guidance for managing and controlling coronavirus in the workplace and is also working with DHHS to manage incidents where they occur in a workplace,” a Workspace spokesperson said.
NSW now has nearly 75% of all active cases
According to a report by the ABC, most people diagnosed with COVID-19 in Australia have now recovered, leaving 611 confirmed cases still active. Nearly three-quarters of current cases are in NSW, while SA, the NT and WA have fewer than 10 current cases each.
Across the country, 6 271 people, or 90%, have recovered from the disease.
“The number of samples tested nationally has surged to record levels since late April, when Australia’s coronavirus testing regime was broadened to include anyone with flu-like symptoms,” the ABC reported.
“The surge is largely driven by increased testing in Victoria — where the number of tests per day has leapt more than five-fold since late April — and NSW, where tests per day have nearly doubled.”
