New South Wales has once again reported skyrocketing daily case numbers as the seven-day average for hospitalisations continues rise in Victoria.
Health workers conduct PCR tests at the St Vincent's Bondi Beach Covid-19 drive through testing clinic on 22 December. Photo: AFP
NSW has recorded 5,715 new Covid-19 cases as the number of people being admitted to hospital with the virus continues to rise.
It is the highest number of daily Covid-19 infections recorded in any Australian jurisdiction, and a rise of 1,952 from yesterday when the state recorded 3,763 cases.
Hospitalisations for Covid have risen to 347, up from 302 in the previous reporting day, with 45 patients in ICU.
Premier Dominic Perrottet yesterday announced he would reintroduce QR code check-ins and also appears set to provide free rapid antigen testing kits.
He said check-in codes would be reintroduced in most settings including hospitality and retail.
Check-ins, which were among a raft of measures relaxed on 15 December, would assist with contact tracing, Perrottet said.
He described the changes as a way of "expanding our arsenal as we learn to live with the virus".
"People have come forward to get tested in record numbers, which is important to help keep people and the community safe, but we need to make sure our testing clinics are there for people who really need it," the Premier said.
"Providing rapid-antigen testing kits for those who want to do the right thing will help take the pressure off our testing clinics, while giving people confidence to get on with their lives.
"Our approach to Covid has never been 'set and forget' - we will always look at options and different ways doing things as we learn to navigate our way through the pandemic.
"This will also help people monitor their own symptoms and go about their daily activities in a responsible manner helping protect their themselves, their families and the community."
Amid rising case numbers, the state has been struggling with long queues at testing centres and delays for people awaiting results.
Residents queue up inside their cars for PCR tests at the St Vincent's Bondi Beach Covid-19 drive through testing clinic in Sydney. Photo: AFP or licensors
Escalating case numbers and hours-long queues for PCR tests, particularly in Sydney, has led to stores across the state selling out of rapid antigen test (RAT) packs.
RATs are home test-kits which can provide a person with a result in 15 minutes - their use has been encouraged by NSW Health.
People are being encouraged to use the kits before heading to large-scale events and high-risk settings such as aged care homes, pubs, clubs, nightclubs and hospitals.
The Premier said in the United Kingdom RAT kits can be ordered and sent to people's homes.
They would also be available for free at NSW Health facilities, local GPs and pharmacies.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard has been instructed to explore options on the best way to proceed.
There was one death recorded in the reporting period.
The latest figures show 94.9 percent of people aged 16 and over have had one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while 93.5 percent of people in the same age group have had two doses of a vaccine.
The new cases were recorded from 160,471 tests.
Victoria case numbers
Victoria has recorded 2,005 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths, as the seven-day average for hospitalisations continues rise.
It is the first time Victoria's daily case count has been above 2,000 since late October.
There are 14,801 active cases in the state, and 655 people have died during the current outbreak based on the latest Department of Health data.
There are 398 Covid-19 patients in Victorian hospitals, including 72 active cases in intensive care and 39 patients on a ventilator.
The state's seven-day average for hospitalisations is 393, up from about 300 a fortnight ago.
A further 40 patients are in intensive care but their infections are no longer considered active.
The latest cases were detected from 85,112 results processed on Wednesday.
Experts call for tightening of restrictions
Meanwhile, an epidemiologist has called for some low-level Covid-19 measures, like increased mask rules, to be reintroduced to avoid harsher restrictions down the line.
The federal and Victorian governments have not introduced any new restrictions following yesterday's national cabinet meeting.
Epidemiologist Nancy Baxter said she was concerned not enough was being done to control the spread of the Omicron variant.
"There seems again to be no sense of urgency, and there really is some urgency here," Professor Baxter said.
"Because what we do now will determine what happens in the next two months really. Failing to act now will have ramifications."
In Victoria, masks are required in high-risk settings and on public transport.
Hospitality workers and both customers and workers in retail settings are also required to wear them.
- ABC
