COVID-19 Australia: Epidemiology Report 30: Fortnightly reporting period ending 22 November 2020

Abstract

Nationally, COVID-19 notifications remained at low levels this fortnight. The daily average number of cases for this reporting period was nine, which was similar to last fortnight’s average. There were 123 cases of COVID-19 and no deaths this fortnight, bringing the cumulative case count to 27,892 and 907 deaths. Hospitalisations for COVID-19 dropped further in the past two fortnights: there were just two cases admitted to FluCAN participating hospitals and there were no admissions to ICU in SPRINT-SARI sites during this four-week period. New South Wales reported the highest proportion of cases this fortnight (46%; 56/123), all of which were overseas acquired. Locally-acquired cases accounted for 15% (19/123) of all cases reported this fortnight all of which were attributed to a cluster of cases in South Australia. At the end of this reporting period, it had been 24 days since there was a locally-acquired case of unknown source. Testing rates increased to 12.0 tests per 1,000 population per week during this reporting period, driven by a significant increasing in testing in South Australia. The overall positivity rate for the reporting period was 0.03%, will all jurisdictions reporting a positivity rate ≤ 0.10%.