3910 deaths in Australia from Covid in 2023, as new cases surge in NSW

Covid cases are on the rise in NSW, and the true toll of the virus this year has been revealed, with almost 4000 Australians dying from the virus in 2023.

As Covid cases surge in NSW, the true toll of the virus in 2023 has been revealed, with new figures showing it was the underlying cause of more than 3900 Australian deaths this year.

NSW Health has raised the Covid alert level to “high”, and the fresh statistics show the virus was the cause of death for more than 1400 people in NSW this year.

The state recorded 6210 positive PCR tests in the two weeks to December 16, up from 5333 in the previous fortnight, with the latest sewage testing data indicating the concentration of Covid-19 in Bondi, Liverpool and Quakers Hill had risen.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the underlying cause of death for 3910 Australians this year was Covid-19, with people aged over 80 the hardest hit.

While the elderly made up the majority of the deaths, 127 people aged below 40 died as a result of Covid this year.

Serena Schembri was concerned when her children Oliver, two years, and Sienna, four months, caught Covid.

While NSW Covid deaths this year were lower than in 2022, when more than 3700 deaths were registered due to the virus, this year’s figure is more than both 2020 and 2021 ­combined.

Dr Paul Griffin, an infectious disease physician, said case numbers were expected to spike in early 2024 after the silly season, but that the symptoms would continue to decline with each wave.

“It’s important for people to appreciate that Covid won’t go away and there’ll be repeated waves and increases in transmission,” he said.

“But hopefully the impact of those waves will continue to decline each time.”

While border closures and lockdowns were a thing of the past, Dr Griffin said people needed to take “sensible precautions” if they felt unwell.

“Those simple measures like masks and staying home if you are sick are effective,” he said.

“We’re not encouraging people to overreact, but we also don’t want people to rebel against the things that do work.”

Dr Paul Griffin. Picture: Patrick Rocca/ABC

Serena Schembri and her family were forced to celebrate Christmas with takeaway and television at home this year after she and her partner, then their son and baby daughter, tested positive.

It was Ms Schembri’s four-month-old daughter’s first Christmas, which made the situation that much worse.

“Covid was a worry for us in the lead-up because it was our first Christmas with the baby,” she said.

“We were trying not to leave the house, we were being super-careful, not going to crowded places.

“So testing positive was really frustrating and a bit sad really.”

While her symptoms were not as severe as the first time she caught Covid a year-and-a-half ago, the stress of watching her baby and two-year-old son also catch the virus has made the experience worse.

“I instantly got upset when she tested positive,” Ms Schembri said.

“Being so young you have to watch them constantly. It really put me on edge because anything can happen at that age.”

With her children still testing positive, it’s looking like her family may be isolating for New Year’s Eve, too.

“Yes, we are living with Covid, but it’s important to remain vigilant about our wellbeing,” she said.

“If you’re feeling unwell, prioritise your health and the safety of others by refraining from attending events.”

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]