NSW Covid latest: 2482 new cases and one death
There were massive Covid testing queues on Saturday as NSW recorded 2482 new Covid cases — its highest daily total so far. An elderly woman also died in the past 24 hours.
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NSW Covid numbers continue to climb with 2482 new cases reported on Saturday, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic, with large amounts of people and cars queuing for tests.
One person also died from the virus in the past 24 hours.
However, hospitalisations and ICU cases remain relatively low, with 206 people in hospital with the virus, including 26 patients in intensive care.
A woman aged in her 90s died at the Gillawarna Village Aged Care Facility in Georges Hall, the fourth death linked to that location.
She had received the two Covid-19 vaccine doses but also had underlying health issues.
Saturday’s case numbers are a jump from the previous NSW record of 2213 on Friday.
Meanwhile some hospitals fear the numbers of this new outbreak could overload emergency and intensive care departments.
Already, staff have been asked to postpone much-needed holidays, while NSW Health has elevated the situation at hospitals to Code Red and restricted visitors.
EXPLOSION IN CASES DUE TO OMICRON VARIANT
The Omicron variant of Covid is “likely” to be responsible for the explosion in case numbers in NSW, according to health authorities.
The record number of 2482 cases means NSW Health has said it will be scaling back the attempts to identify the new strain in confirmed cases.
“With the high number of Covid-19 cases now in NSW, NSW Health will only undertake genomic sequencing for the Omicron variant in the circumstances where it will make a clinical difference to the care of a patient,” NSW Health said in a statement.
“For instance, where it will inform treatment choices as some therapies work with Delta but not for Omicron, and in situations where it will inform public health action.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the number of cases should not trigger the same public health response as earlier in the pandemic.
“We’re going to alarm people on case numbers. What matters is hospitalisations, ICU, people on ventilators and severe illness,” he said.
“And that’s the key indicators and the thresholds for determining what public health setting should be.”
His comments came as Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid pleaded with Premier Dominic Perrottet to bring back masks less than a week after the rules were relaxed.
“Even if Omicron turns out to be mild in vaccinated people, an explosion of cases will have a devastating effect on healthcare – GPs looking after community cases, furloughing of exposed workers and of course the unknown proportion who will need to be treated in hospital,” Dr Khorshid said.
“Masks and social distancing measures to slow the spread are urgently needed in NSW. Living with Covid doesn’t mean letting it rip. Caution now is so much better than regrets later … the pandemic is far from over – just look at the rest of the world.”
The Argyle House and The Cambridge have decided to shut up shop completely until after Christmas after being linked to multiple cases.
The Hunter New England region made up 899 of the 2482 new cases of Covid yesterday, with NSW Health confirming the majority are likely the new Omicron variant.
Schoolies have also been caught up in the explosion of cases with 100 school leavers isolating in Byron Bay after an outbreak in the Discovery Parks caravan park.
Night-life and entertainment venues in Sydney remain open with no capacity limits, however with people scared of catching Covid before Christmas, many events are being cancelled or rescheduled.
SANTA, PLEASE BRING ME A R.A.T
A rapid antigen test for Covid is the “best present you can give” for anyone worried about celebrating Christmas with elderly family members.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the quick and cheap tests, which are available at supermarkets and pharmacies, could help to protect vulnerable relatives at a gathering.
“Forget the ham – a RAT test is the best Christmas present you can give your family,” he said.
“RAT tests should be walking out of the supermarket aisles.
“Of course, if you develop symptoms, then go get a more precise PCR test and isolate.
“And if you do have symptoms, you shouldn’t be going to any gatherings. The last thing anyone wants is Omicron as their Christmas present.”
Covid clinics have been swamped by people seeking a PCR test, with some queuing for more than an hour.
While the state government has wound back mandatory mask-wearing, many businesses were yesterday urging customers to wear them.
The concern about case numbers has also led to Christmas parties being cancelled.
Pub baron Craig Laundy told The Saturday Telegraph that about 20 per cent of bookings for Friday and Saturday at the bigger venues had been cancelled.
The decision by the government to ease restrictions at the same time as case numbers were exploding – especially in Newcastle – prompted 2GB host Ray Hadley to blast Premier Dominic Perrottet, who Hadley said had signed his “political death warrant”.
Breaking from his holidays in Queensland to call in to fill-in morning host Mark Levy, Hadley said the decision by Mr Perrottet to wind back mandatory mask-wearing and QR check-in codes was “utterly inexplicable”.
“He’s a great man with a big brain, but his brains are in his butt right now … he’s being very obstinate, very stubborn and very stupid,” Hadley said.
The spray followed Levy reading out a text from Hadley to the Premier on air, which had accused Mr Perrottet of being “pig-headed” and “ruining” Christmas by easing restrictions too soon.
A responding text from Mr Perrottet read out on air by Hadley said the Premier was happy to disagree with the 2GB host, that his job was to do his best for the community and he wasn’t concerned with being re-elected.
Despite the spray, both the NSW and Victorian governments further eased restrictions yesterday, scrapping a requirement for international travellers and aircrew arriving in Sydney and Melbourne to isolate for 72 hours.
Mr Perrottet said the removal of the isolation requirement would make the process easier for international travellers and help keep flight crew in the air.
“We know it has been a challenging time for international travel … this announcement is about simplifying the process and making sure Australia’s two biggest cities have a consistent approach,” he said.
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Originally published as NSW Covid latest: 2482 new cases and one death
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