COVID-19 cases in Australia were up 35 per cent in March

In March, COVID-19 cases in Australia increased by 35 per cent.

The latest NSW health data shows a 12.5 per cent jump in cases for the week ending March 28.

The state's average daily cases are now double that of other jurisdictions.

ACT bucked the trend with a 16.5 per cent drop in cases, with all other states and territories recording rising case numbers.

In regional NSW, the Hunter New England Local Health District had the highest number of new cases in the past month, with 1134.

The district, which includes Newcastle, Tamworth and Armidale, had five deaths and 29 people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in the week ending March 25.

It brought the total deaths in the district this year to 103.

In Tasmania, a recent increase in cases has been attributed to a rise in the south region, which includes Hobart.

The region has had 1473 new cases in the past four weeks.

On March 30, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said cases in residential aged care were up 65 per cent in the past few weeks

He said this was generally a reliable indicator of COVID-19 spread.

"We've seen a very slow, small uptick in hospitalisations over the last several weeks as well, all of which goes to reinforce the message that this is not over," Mr Butler said.

Chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly described COVID-19 cases in Australia as a "ripple".

"Whether that will turn into a wave... it's difficult to predict at this stage," he said.

"People are over COVID. I'm certainly over COVID. But it's still there, we can't ignore that there is COVID circulating in the community."

Professor Kelly said Australians should also be prepared for the flu this winter.

"People are very much encouraged again this year to think about flu vaccine as well as COVID vaccine," he said.

NSW Health reported a 20 per cent increase in flu cases in the week ending March 25, but confirmed influenza remained at low levels.

Mr Butler announced people aged 60 to 69 would only require one 'risk factor', rather than two, to be eligible for the oral antiviral Paxlovid from April 1.

"That means about an additional 160,000 Australians in that age group will be able to access Paxlovid over the course of this year in the event of additional waves," he said.

He said eligible people should make a plan with their doctor if they do test positive, so they can access the antivirals in the first few days of infection.

Mr Butler also announced a new advertising campaign for COVID-19 vaccination boosters.

"If it's been more than six months since you were infected, or six months since you had your last dose of COVID vaccine, you are now able to go out and get an additional dose... to top up your protection."

IN OTHER NEWS: