Number of Australians who have died with COVID-19 surpasses 11,000

One third of the nation’s aged care facilities have been hit with the deadly winter wave, with 114 deaths recorded this week alone.

Australia has reached a grim Covid milestone as deaths surpass 11,000.

As the country is gripped by a deadly winter wave of the virus, aged care facilities are calling for urgent action to protect residents and staff.

One third of the nation’s aged care facilities have been hit with the virus as of Thursday, with 1013 facilities recording cases in 6000 residents and 3400 staff.

Of those infected around the country this week, 114 have died, with the death toll rising by more than 100 on Saturday.

Victoria recorded the most fatalities this week at 44, while NSW followed close behind with 41 deaths.

In Queensland eight deaths were recorded, South Australia and the ACT recorded three, Western Australia had two and Tasmania reported one.

The Northern Territory was the only state or territory to get through the week without a death from the virus.

Victoria recorded the most fatalities, 44, on Saturday as the death toll rose to over 11,000. Photo: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

The concerning toll on Saturday finalised the grim statistic, with deaths since the beginning of the pandemic reaching 11,134.

The worrying reminder that the pandemic is not yet over has prompted the Aged & Community Care Providers Association to call for better protections for residents and staff.

Association interim chief executive Paul Sadler said pressure was mounting on aged care workers, with 10 to 15 per cent of staff already isolating or quarantining at home.

“ACCPA is concerned that anywhere up to two-thirds of aged care homes could be affected by active outbreaks over coming weeks,” Mr Sadler said in a statement on Sunday.

“The increased availability in surge workforce including the Australian Defence Force over the past week has been welcome, but there is still a shortfall.”

Mr Sadler is urging the federal government to fix the chronic workforce shortages and to implement reforms recommended by the recent royal commission into aged care.

“The coming weeks are critical for aged care,” he said.

“We must do all we can to put the protection of older people first and support our aged care workers.”

The chief executive said 2301 residents have died from the virus so far this year.

Originally published as Number of Australians who have died with COVID-19 surpasses 11,000