Ruqayyah Snyder
As of April 2025, Australia is facing low COVID-19 booster rates in aged care and older Australians, with less than half of aged care residents aged 75 and older being adequately protected against COVID-19. This has prompted warnings from health experts ahead of winter, which typically sees an increase in respiratory infections. In the past, Australia has managed to keep COVID-19 infection rates low through the closure of international borders, mass testing, contact tracing, and adherence to distancing and hygiene protocols. However, in May 2022, Australia's reported infection rates were among the highest in the world, with an average daily infection rate of 1,515 cases per million people. High positivity rates in PCR tests and the emergence of new subvariants have also contributed to concerns about COVID-19 in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| COVID-19 Infection Rates | High compared to other countries |
| Date of Data | As of 2 May 2022 |
| Average Daily Infection Rate | 1,515 cases per million people |
| Country with Highest Rate | New Zealand (1,566 cases per million) |
| Western Australia's Daily Figures | 9,782 cases (highest ever) |
| PCR Testing Positivity Rate | 20% |
| World Health Organization Target | <5% |
| Subvariants | BA.2.12.1, BA.4, BA.5 |
| Increase in Transmissibility | 25% more than BA.2 |
| Aged Care Residents Vaccination | 45.8% of over 75s in past 6 months |
| National Immunisation Guidelines | 6-monthly boosters for over 75s |
| Community Vaccination Rate (over 75s) | 20% in past 6 months |
| Excess Mortality | Higher in rural and remote areas |
| Victoria's Death Rate | 87% of all COVID-19 deaths in Australia in 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
Covid infection rates in Australia in 2022
Covid-19 infection rates in Australia in 2022 were among the highest in the world. As of 2 May 2022, Australia's average daily infection rate was 1,515 cases per million people, the second-highest in the world for countries with a population of over one million. On that day, Western Australia recorded its highest-ever daily Covid figures, with 9,782 cases.
Australia's high infection rate may be the result of high "case ascertainment", according to Prof Catherine Bennett, the chair in epidemiology at Deakin University. Although PCR testing rates had dropped off in Australia, Bennett claimed that they were still being conducted more frequently than in many other countries.
The high infection rate in Australia could also be attributed to the removal of public health measures and the emergence of new Omicron subvariants. Three new subvariants, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5, were detected in Australia for the first time in May 2022. These subvariants were estimated to be about 25% more transmissible than the previous variant, BA.2.
Covid-19 was a leading cause of death in Australia in 2022, with tens of thousands of Australians being reinfected with the virus. Despite this, there was a sense of apathy towards Covid-19, with many people feeling that they had moved on from the virus.
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Covid death rates in Victoria, Australia
COVID-19 has been a leading cause of death in Australia, with the country recording a 0.01% increase in deaths due to the virus. The pandemic has disproportionately affected different communities in Australia. People living in poverty or disadvantaged areas are three times more likely to die from COVID-19 than wealthy people. Similarly, the death rate from COVID-19 for people living in Australia who were born overseas was almost three times higher than for those born in the country. During the Delta variant wave in Victoria and New South Wales, people from refugee and migrant backgrounds died at home before receiving medical care. This has been attributed to a reluctance to seek healthcare due to fear of fines and authorities, and a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare communication and services.
In Victoria, COVID-19 deaths spiked during the second wave, with the state accounting for more than half of the increase in deaths across Australia during the final week of July. The risk of being diagnosed with COVID-19 in Victoria was highest for those aged over 90, with those over 80 also at high risk. This is reflected in the data, which shows that males over 75 and females over 85 accounted for almost 90% of the spike in deaths during that week. The increase in deaths during the second wave in aged care homes in Victoria may have been due to difficulties in providing adequate care.
The overall death rate in Victoria decreased slightly from 5.13 deaths per 1000 population in 2021 to 5.12 in 2022. However, the state has continued to experience the impact of COVID-19, with Victoria closing its borders to the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales in July 2020 to prevent the spread of the Delta variant.
While COVID-19 has been a significant cause of death in Victoria and Australia as a whole, the country has bucked the global trend of decreasing life expectancy during the pandemic. Australia was one of 32 countries out of 204 studied that recorded an increase in life expectancy, with people expected to live longer despite the pandemic. This is in contrast to regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean, which experienced a sharp decline in life expectancy during the pandemic.
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Covid vaccination rates in aged care
Australia has witnessed a surge in Covid infection rates, with reported rates among the highest in the world. As of May 2022, Australia's average daily infection rate stood at 1,515 cases per million people, second only to New Zealand. Western Australia recorded its peak daily Covid cases, with 9,782 infections.
This surge has been attributed to the emergence of three new Omicron subvariants: BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5, which are approximately 25% more transmissible than BA.2. The removal of public health measures has also contributed to the high transmission rates.
While Covid vaccination is free for all Australians, there are concerns about low booster rates, especially in aged care settings. Despite being at the highest risk of severe illness and death, less than half of aged care residents aged 75 and older are up to date with their Covid-19 vaccinations. Approximately a fifth of aged care facilities have vaccinated less than one in ten residents in the past six months.
In response, Australia's chief medical officer and the aged care quality and safety commissioner have urged providers to increase vaccination rates in residential aged care homes ahead of winter, which typically sees an increase in respiratory infections, including Covid-19. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission intends to monitor vaccination rates and take necessary actions.
Infectious disease specialists have emphasized that while the risk of dying from Covid-19 has decreased since the pandemic's beginning, the disease still poses a significant threat to older Australians, particularly those in aged care.
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Covid testing rates in Australia
Australia's COVID-19 testing rates are considered to be some of the best in the world. Data on COVID-19 testing rates per thousand people shows that Australia is performing well compared to many other countries. This gives a reasonable level of confidence that most COVID-19 cases across the country are being detected.
In 2020, there was competition between the states over coronavirus border restrictions, which led to a competition over which state had the highest testing rate. On May 14, 2020, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian claimed that NSW had the "highest rate of testing in the world". Soon after, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos tweeted that Victoria had "the highest per capita testing rate in Australia". However, there is no standardised reporting of COVID-19 test data, making it difficult to determine the exact testing rates and which state or country has the highest rate.
At the time of these claims in 2020, NSW was counting the number of people tested, not the number of tests. When it switched to counting tests on May 26, 2020, its total rate jumped by 8%. This change would have put NSW roughly level with Victoria in terms of cumulative tests. Nevertheless, Victoria maintained its lead in daily tests, conducting twice as many daily tests per person as NSW.
Australia has continued to maintain a high level of testing, even during the Victoria outbreak in 2024. The increase in testing rates has also influenced the number of confirmed influenza cases, with Australia experiencing some of the highest levels of confirmed influenza cases, fever, and cough in the last five years. However, this has not resulted in a significant increase in hospitalisations.
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Covid in Australia compared to other countries
Covid-19 has had a varied impact on different countries, with some experiencing multiple waves and others avoiding major outbreaks. Let's take a look at how Australia has fared in comparison to other nations.
As of 2025, Australia is experiencing a new wave of Covid-19 infections, with a particular focus on the low vaccination rates among older Australians and those in aged care facilities. Health experts are concerned that less than half of residents aged 75 and above in aged care homes are up to date with their Covid-19 vaccinations, despite being at the highest risk of severe illness and death. This trend is also reflected in the wider community, where just one-fifth of Australians over 75 have received a Covid-19 booster in the past six months.
In contrast, if we look back to May 2022, Australia had one of the highest reported Covid-19 infection rates in the world, second only to New Zealand. At that time, Australia's average daily infection rate was 1,515 cases per million people. The high positivity rate of PCR tests, at 20%, indicated a significant undiagnosed Covid presence. This high transmission was attributed to the removal of public health measures and the emergence of new Omicron subvariants.
Comparatively, Sweden is an example of a country that never implemented strict lockdowns, relying instead on voluntary behavioural changes. While excess mortality was higher in Sweden during the initial pandemic waves of 2020, it fell in 2020 for Norway, Denmark, and Finland, who had imposed lockdowns, only to rise again in 2021 and 2022. This highlights the impact of lockdowns on the timing of spikes, with Norway's approach potentially prolonging the lives of older, vulnerable individuals.
Furthermore, Australia's high reported infection rates in 2022 may be a result of high "case ascertainment," according to Prof Catherine Bennett, the chair in epidemiology at Deakin University. Australia's free and widely available PCR testing could contribute to higher case detection compared to other countries.
Interestingly, data from New South Wales, Australia, in January 2023, indicated that Covid infection rates were higher among individuals who had received between one and four Covid vaccine doses. This trend was also observed in UK government data from 2021, which suggested that the vaccines may inhibit the body's natural ability to produce antibodies, making individuals more susceptible to breakthrough infections.
In summary, Australia's Covid-19 situation has varied over time, with periods of high infection rates and lower vaccination rates among at-risk groups. The country's response has been compared to other nations, highlighting the complexities of pandemic management and the varied strategies employed worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
As of May 2022, Australia's average daily infection rate is 1,515 cases per million people, the second-highest in the world for countries with a population greater than 1 million.
In 2020, Australia recorded 27,600 coronavirus infections since the pandemic began.
Health officials attributed Australia's success in containing the virus to the closure of its international borders, mass testing, contact tracing, and adherence to distancing and hygiene protocols.
Less than half of aged care residents aged 75 and older are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. In the wider community, only about a fifth of Australians in the same age group have received a booster in the past six months.
Some data analysts attribute this to the COVID-19 vaccine suppressing the body's adaptive immune system, leaving vaccinated individuals more susceptible to illness.
