Leslie Massey
Australia has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country experiencing several waves of infections. The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant drove a record rise in infections, with New South Wales reporting one of the highest infection rates globally. On 18 January 2022, Australia recorded 77 COVID-19 deaths, the highest number at that point. By February 2022, the country had exceeded 5,000 COVID-19-related deaths. Australia's border restrictions were lifted for vaccinated individuals in February 2022, and fever clinics were established to handle potential spikes in COVID-19 cases and reduce the burden on traditional healthcare services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | August 11, 2025 |
| State with the highest number of COVID-19 cases | Victoria |
| Number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria | 40,482 per 100,000 people |
| State with one of the highest infection rates worldwide | New South Wales |
| Number of COVID-19 deaths as of January 18, 2022 | 3,000 |
| Number of COVID-19 deaths as of February 4, 2022 | 4,000 |
| Number of COVID-19 deaths as of February 23, 2022 | 5,000 |
| Border restrictions lifted for vaccinated people | February 21, 2022 |
| States that remained COVID-19 free | South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and the Northern Territory |
| States that returned to low-level restrictions due to the Omicron variant | Queensland, Western Australia |
| Date when fever clinics were announced | August 23, 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
New South Wales records highest daily cases
On 29 August 2021, New South Wales recorded its highest number of daily COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. There were 1,218 new local confirmed cases, surpassing Victoria's previous record during an earlier wave. The same day also saw six deaths, making it the state's "worst day" of its June 2021 outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
The outbreak was linked to the Bondi cluster, which had a total of 65 cases. In response, an initial lockdown was announced for four Sydney local government areas (LGAs) on 25 June, when 22 new cases were reported. Despite the record-high number of daily cases in New South Wales, the number of COVID-19 deaths was significantly lower than the 41 daily deaths recorded in Victoria during its peak.
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, which drove a record rise in infections across Australia, led to New South Wales having one of the highest infection rates worldwide. On 18 January 2022, Australia recorded 77 COVID-19 deaths, the highest number at that point, with 36 of those in New South Wales. By 22 January 2022, Australia had exceeded 3,000 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, and this number continued to rise rapidly, reaching 4,000 by 4 February and 5,000 by 23 February.
In December 2021, most public health restrictions were lifted after 90% of the Australian population had been vaccinated. However, the arrival of the Omicron variant in December prompted states to reintroduce low-level restrictions, such as mask-wearing and hospitality density limits, to combat small-scale outbreaks. Despite these measures, the highly infectious nature of the Omicron variant resulted in a significant increase in infections, impacting workforce availability and leading to a reduction in rules for people exposed to COVID-19 to alleviate worker shortages.
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Omicron variant drives record rise in infections
Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been largely effective, with most public health restrictions lifted in December 2021 after 90% of the population was vaccinated. However, the emergence of the Omicron variant in December of that year drove a record rise in infections, causing New South Wales to have one of the highest infection rates in the world.
The Omicron variant's high transmissibility led to a rapid increase in cases across Australia. By January 18, 2022, 77 COVID-19 deaths were reported, the highest number in a single day up to that point. While not all of these deaths occurred on the same day, it marked a significant spike in fatalities. This surge in infections also resulted in a strain on healthcare services, with ''fever clinics' being opened to assess, test, treat, and triage individuals with potential COVID-19 symptoms.
New South Wales, in particular, experienced a challenging outbreak of the Delta variant in June 2021, recording six deaths and 1,218 new local confirmed cases on August 29, which was the state's highest daily case count at the time. The situation in NSW contributed to the national spike in infections and highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.
To manage the influx of cases, rules for people exposed to COVID-19 were relaxed to alleviate worker shortages. This decision was justified by Queensland's Chief Health Officer, John Gerrard, who stated that spreading COVID-19 was "necessary" to transition from the "pandemic stage to an endemic stage". By February 4, 2022, the number of COVID-19-related deaths exceeded 4,000, and border restrictions were eventually lifted for vaccinated individuals on February 21, 2022, opening Australia up to the world.
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''Fever clinics' open for suspected cases
Australia has been hit by various waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Delta and Omicron variants causing record rises in infections. In June 2021, an initial lockdown was announced for four Sydney LGAs after 22 new cases of the Delta variant brought infections linked to the Bondi cluster to 65. In December 2021, the arrival of the Omicron variant led to another surge in cases, with New South Wales having one of the highest infection rates globally.
To manage the pandemic, Australia implemented border restrictions, quarantine requirements, and other public health measures. By February 2022, border restrictions were lifted for vaccinated individuals, including non-citizens, effectively reopening the country to the world. However, the pandemic has had a significant impact on Australia, with over 5,000 COVID-19-related deaths reported by February 2022.
During the pandemic, the Australian government established fever clinics, also known as GP respiratory clinics, to provide assessment and clinical advice to individuals with suspected COVID-19 infections. These clinics played a crucial role in managing the outbreak and providing care to those exhibiting symptoms indicative of a possible COVID-19 infection.
If individuals experienced symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, they could contact these dedicated fever clinics for evaluation and guidance. The Department of Health funded up to 100 GP respiratory clinics to bolster Australia's pandemic response and ensure accessible care for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms. These clinics augmented the healthcare system's capacity to identify, assess, and advise suspected COVID-19 cases, thereby helping to curb the spread of the virus and provide timely treatment to those affected.
To locate these fever clinics, individuals could visit their state or territory health department website for detailed information. These websites provided resources to help residents navigate the pandemic, access relevant services, and find the nearest fever clinic for assessment if they exhibited COVID-19 symptoms.
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Australia's international border restrictions lifted
Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic involved implementing border restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. Most public health restrictions were lifted in December 2021, after 90% of the Australian population was vaccinated. However, the emergence of the Omicron variant in December led to a record rise in infections, causing states to reimpose low-level restrictions such as mask-wearing and hospitality density limits.
On February 21, 2022, Australia lifted border restrictions for all vaccinated individuals, including non-citizens such as tourists and new immigrants, marking a significant step towards reopening the country to the world. This decision ended a prolonged period of international travel restrictions, allowing fully vaccinated travellers to enter Australia without strict flight caps or lengthy hotel quarantine requirements.
The removal of border restrictions was welcomed by those eager to resume international travel and reunite with loved ones overseas. It also signalled a transition to a 'post-COVID normal', where travel could resume while still adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols. However, critics had expressed concerns about the safety of lifting these restrictions, suggesting that constructing additional outdoor quarantine centres could enhance protection against the virus.
While the relaxation of border restrictions was a pivotal moment, Australia continued to grapple with the impact of the pandemic. By February 23, 2022, the country had surpassed 5,000 COVID-19-related deaths, a sombre reminder of the virus's toll. Additionally, the highly infectious nature of the Omicron variant resulted in staff shortages across various sectors, prompting a reduction in rules for individuals exposed to COVID-19 to alleviate the strain on essential services.
As of August 2025, historical data indicates that Australia had recorded a total of 11,853,144 COVID-19 cases, with 24,414 active cases as of April 13, 2024. While the majority of countries have ceased reporting COVID-19 statistics, Australia's journey towards lifting international border restrictions highlights the delicate balance between public health, safety, and the resumption of international travel and connectivity.
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COVID-19 outbreaks in NSW and Victoria
Australia's COVID-19 outbreaks in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria have been significant, with both states experiencing notable surges in cases and facing challenges in managing the spread of the virus.
In June 2021, NSW faced an outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant, with 22 new cases linked to the Bondi cluster, resulting in a lockdown for four Sydney local government areas (LGAs). On 29 August 2021, NSW recorded its highest daily confirmed case total, with 1,218 new local cases and six deaths. This surge surpassed Victoria's previous record in an earlier wave, highlighting the severity of the outbreak.
Victoria also experienced a significant wave of COVID-19 infections, with a record number of daily deaths. On 25 June, Victoria reported 41 daily deaths, a higher number compared to the recorded COVID-19 deaths during NSW's Delta outbreak. While the daily case count in Victoria was not specified, it served as a benchmark for the surge in NSW, indicating a substantial outbreak.
The Omicron variant, which arrived in December, led to a record rise in infections across Australia. NSW was particularly hard hit, reporting 36 COVID-19 deaths on 18 January 2022, contributing to the highest daily death toll in the country at that time. Victoria also experienced a rise in cases during this wave, with 22 deaths reported on the same day.
In response to the outbreaks, Australia implemented border restrictions and quarantine measures. On 2 July, the National Cabinet decided to halve the number of airline passengers allowed into the country. The Victorian, Western Australian, and Queensland governments advocated for this reduction due to the highly infectious nature of the Delta variant. Australia began reopening its borders to vaccinated citizens and residents on 1 November 2021, with NSW and Victoria welcoming arrivals without strict flight caps or extended hotel quarantines.
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Frequently asked questions
On 29 August 2021, New South Wales recorded 1,218 new local confirmed cases, which was the highest daily confirmed case total Australia had received on a single day.
On 18 January 2022, 77 COVID-19 deaths were reported in Australia, the highest number recorded in a single day.
New South Wales. On 30 August, the Ministry of Health reported the death of a man in his 50s at Dubbo Hospital, believed to be the first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander COVID-19 related death.
40,482 people per 100,000 of the population.
