Deaths from Covid in Australian aged care pass 5,000 after monthly fatalities double in January

Department of Health says significant jump to 597 deaths from 22 December to 25 January was partially influenced by a change in reporting methodology

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More than 5,000 Australian aged care residents have died with Covid since the start of the pandemic, with the number of reported deaths increasing sharply since the beginning of the year.

Department of Health data confirms the number of Covid deaths in aged care facilities jumped from a total of 4,448 on 22 December to 5,045 on 25 January.

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