NSW Covid: Restrictions reinstated, surgeries postponed as expected peak revealed

Premier Dominic Perrottet has reintroduced some Covid restrictions while assuring the health system will cope with even the “worst-case scenario”.

The state government has reinstated a number of Covid safety measures as infections across NSW surge.

The state recorded 38,625 new infections on Friday and 11 deaths. Health authorities said 1738 people were hospitalised with the virus and 134 of those were in intensive care.

Premier Dominic Perrottet announced restrictions on singing and dancing will be reintroduced in hospitality venues from tomorrow until January 27, and non-urgent electives surgeries will be postponed.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced changes to health restrictions as Omicron cases surge. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Mr Perrottet said the reinstated restrictions are “sensible and proportionate changes”.

“There’ll be no singing and dancing in hospitality venues. That does not include weddings or performers or classes that people may be conducting.

“If you can sit down while drinking, please do so.”

Nightclubs will be forced to close until January 27 as the NSW government attempts to slow the spread of Omicron. Picture: AAP Image/Steven Saphore

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant explained health authorities are “picking on” bars and nightclubs to reduce the virus’ exposure to new social networks and in turn “reduce the impact we’re seeing on our hospitals and those other critical services”.

“When you’re actually dancing on a dance floor, when you’re energised and singing in a group and moving around, then you actually risking exposing people that you would normally day-to-day not come into contact with.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant has made recommendations to help slow the virus’ spread. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Premier Dominic Perrottet also recommended people minimise home visitations, and more indoor gatherings outdoors where possible.

“The overwhelming majority” of major events will be able to proceed, but will require the approval and risk management of NSW Health.

“Only in circumstances where NSW Health deems that event to be a high risk event, then we will contact those organisers and work through the current Covid-safe plans with you.”

Category three non-urgent elective surgeries will be suspended until mid-February.

“We did that during the Delta outbreak and the Alpha outbreak and we believe this is the right approach,” Mr Perrottet said.

Elective surgeries will be temporarily suspended across NSW.

A new reporting system will allow people to log positive RAT results with Service NSW, the Premier also announced, which will be made available midweek next week.

“As we move through this period … if you do receive a positive rapid antigen test, we ask that you declare that through Service NSW and NSW Health.

“We ask that you treat that as you would a positive PCR test, and isolate in accordance with the rules.”

NSW Health has released updated modelling of the capacity of the health system as Omicron infections heap pressure on hospitals and staff.

Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce explained the model’s worst-case scenario is based on the experience of New York in the US, but the “most realistic” middle scenario will see NSW move well beyond the peak of infections by mid-February.

“We expect that peak to occur in around the third to last week of January.

“We are seeing a much lower length of stay asscoaiated with people with Omicron who do end up with a hospital admission ... (but) it still places a very significant degree of stress on the health system.”

Premier Dominic Perrottet said: “What is encouraging from this model is that even on a worst-case scenario, we have the capacity in our health system right now.”

NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce detailed modelling of the state’s hospital capacity amid Omicron. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Vaccination mandates will also be updated to reflect the requirement for high-risk frontline workers to receive their booster shot as soon as they become eligible.

“Whether it’s our teachers, nurses, our frontline health and disability workers, where NSW Health has previously required mandatory vaccination … we will move to boosters being included,” Mr Perrottet said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet met with health officials and Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Thursday to discuss the situation, and hinted earlier that morning that changes would be made.

“There’s obviously significant pressure on the system … we believe we will be certainly getting through this but we need to make some changes,” Mr Perrottet said on 2GB.

“I would expect, on elective surgery and I would also expect in terms of our work with the private health system, in managing as we go through these increases the cases.”

The changes mark a major backflip from the Premier, who has previously resisted calls to reintroduce tighter measures to stop the spread of Omicron.

Almost 94 per cent of NSW over the age of 16 are now double vaccinated; 95.1 per cent of the population have had at least one vaccination.