‘Sharp decline’: New detail in NSW cases as Omicron outbreak escalates

NSW authorities have revealed new details of the Omicron outbreak’s expected course over the next few weeks, as daily cases skyrocket.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has said Covid-19 cases will continue to skyrocket but health officials expect a “sharp decline” once the outbreak passes its peak.

The state broke its daily record for Covid-19 cases again on Wednesday, with 35,054 infections reported as well as eight deaths.

Almost one in three people whose tests were processed in the latest reporting period tested positive to Covid-19.

The positivity rate, from the 108,844 PCR tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, was 32.21 per cent.

Mr Perrottet said the next few weeks would be challenging, with cases expected to climb even higher and the health system already under strain.

“We do expect to see a sharp escalation, a continued escalation in case numbers. But the experience around the world with Omicron is that it is then followed by a sharp decline,” he told reporters after the case numbers were released.

“And we also know that Omicron is much less severe than the Delta variant and previous variants.”

There were 1491 people in hospital with the virus on Wednesday, 119 of those in intensive care.

Hospitalisations have increased by 147 from 1344 patients on Tuesday and ICU presentations have increased by 14.

At the peak of the Delta variant outbreak on September 21, 1266 people were hospitalised, with 244 patients in intensive care and 118 people on ventilators.

With 184,413 active cases now confirmed in the state and even more unidentified infections in the community, NSW Health deputy secretary Susan Pearce said some hospitalisations were unavoidable.

Ms Pearce said people should prepare for several more weeks of coronavirus-induced pressure on the healthcare system as the Omicron variant fuels tens of thousands of daily cases.

“What has been carrying out is what was predicted – that is that Omicron is less severe than previous strains, but the sheer number of cases is obviously resulting in people needing to come to hospital and that will continue,” she told reporters on Wednesday.

“So we expect for the next several weeks that we will see that pressure continuing. We also expect that once it starts to decline, it will likely decline quite quickly but we have got some challenging weeks ahead of us.”

Ms Pearce said healthcare workers had been encouraged to book leave in December and January, which combined with the high case numbers was creating a “perfect storm” of pressure on the hospital system.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos, JANUARY 05, 2022: NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet speaks to the media during a press conference in Glenquarie Town Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet praised frontline workers and thanked the wider community for their patience, particularly in trying to get tested for the virus.

“I appreciate very much the patience that everyone is showing in lining up in those queues (for PCR tests). Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to put downward pressure on that system,” he told reporters.

He said the NSW government would do anything it could to make sure that anyone who needed a rapid antigen test (RAT) could get one.

“We’ve obviously put a substantial order here in New South Wales for the antigen test and we want to make sure those who need access to rapid antigen test get access to that now,” he said.

“There is no dollar fee that we will not put on the table to ensure, as we move through this next phase, rapid antigen tests are available to anybody right across the state who needs one.”

Ms Pearce said millions of RATs the NSW government had ordered would arrive in the state from next week.

NSW Health deputy secretary Susan Pearce said the next few weeks would be challenging. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

State and territory leaders will meet with Scott Morrison later on Wednesday at a national cabinet meeting where the affordability of RATs will be on the agenda.

The Prime Minister has resisted calls to make RATs free despite widespread shortages as people attempt to secure the kits which governments have said are now the preferred method of testing in most situations.

State and territory leaders have agreed to transition from the “gold standard” PCR method, which requires labour-intensive laboratory analysis, to a mixed testing approach.

But RATs have proved incredibly difficult to come by.

Mr Morrison is reportedly planning to bring to national cabinet a proposal to provide low-income earners, including pensioners and welfare recipients, with an allowance to buy up to five rapid kits.

The kits have been selling for well above market price at some outlets, with reports of tests costing as much as $50 each.

ACCC chair Rod Sims said the watchdog would investigate claims of RAT price-gouging. Picture by Sean Davey.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said on Tuesday the regulator would investigate claims of rapid test price-gouging and may “name and shame” outlets found to be overcharging for the kits.

Mr Sims said the competition watchdog had received more than 100 complaints about rapid tests in recent weeks.

Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that RATs should be free after spending the first part of the week saying they should be “affordable”.

The Opposition Leader told the ABC’s 7.30 program on Tuesday night he would have “no problem” with RATs being free and solidified his position the next morning.

“Rapid antigen tests should be free and available. We are in a pandemic. Everyone needs access,” Mr Albanese tweeted.

Meanwhile, Victoria broke its own daily record with 17,636 new cases reported on Wednesday, as well as 11 deaths.

There were 591 people in Victorian hospitals with the virus, up from the seven-day average of 503.

Queensland also reached a new high with 6781 cases, a 20 per cent increase on the previous record of 5699 set on Tuesday.

There are now more than 32,300 active cases in Queensland, a figure that chief health officer Dr John Gerrard expects to climb into “the hundreds of thousands” by the end of January.

Originally published as ‘Sharp decline’: New detail in NSW cases as Omicron outbreak escalates