New Covid vaccine mandate announced for NSW after state records 38,625 new infections

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced a broadened vaccine mandate after the state smashed another daily case record.

People in NSW who had to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to continue working will be required to get a booster shot under a broadened mandate as Omicron drives a surge in cases.

Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Friday that certain frontline workers would need to have a third dose of a vaccine, once they become eligible, in order to continue to be considered fully vaccinated.

The original, sweeping mandate came into force last year as the NSW government ramped up its vaccination drive during the Delta variant outbreak.

Healthcare and hospital workers, aged care staff, teachers and airport workers were among those who had to get two doses of a vaccine in order to keep their jobs last year.

“Whether it’s our teachers, nurses, our frontline health and disability workers, where NSW Health has previously required mandatory vaccination, that we will move to boosters being included as part of that fully vaccinated determination,” Mr Perrottet told reporters.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is expected to reintroduce some restrictions in his state. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

People in Australia are eligible for a booster dose four months after their second shot under direction from the commonwealth government.

Health authorities on Friday revealed their modelling that suggests NSW’s Omicron outbreak will peak in the third to fourth week of this month before cases begin to fall in February.

NSW broke its daily record for Covid-19 cases again on Friday, reporting 38,625 infections and 11 more deaths of people with the virus.

There are 1738 people in hospital with the virus, with 134 of those in intensive care, up from 1609 and 131 patients respectively on Thursday.

Of the over 16 population, 93.6 per cent are double-dose vaccinated, while 95.1 per cent have had at least one shot.

The state has recorded more than 100,000 cases in three days and Premier Dominic Perrottet is expected to reintroduce restrictions in a bid to slow the virus’ rampant spread and reduce the burden on hospitals.

New measures were likely to be signed off by the government’s Covid economic recovery committee on Friday morning.

While the Omicron variant fuelling skyrocketing cases is believed to cause a milder illness than previous strains, authorities have warned the sheer number of cases is putting pressure on the health care system.

Covid infections continue to rise in NSW.

NSW residents have been told to brace themselves for a short but intense surge of cases over the coming weeks before infections quickly decline once the outbreak passes its peak.

There were 112,725 PCR test processed on Thursday, as lengthy queues persist at some testing centres and the government urges people to avoid taking one unless absolutely necessary.

State and territory leaders agreed at a national cabinet meeting on Wednesday to scrap the requirement for people to who test positive on a rapid antigen test (RAT) to follow it up with a PCR test.

The Victorian government on Thursday announced it would be mandatory to report the result of a positive RAT to the Department of Health.

The department said the move would ensure people could access the care and information they need, including monitoring for worsening symptoms and financial support for isolation.

The NSW government is yet to follow suit, meaning the true rate of infection is likely to be skewed without all the potential cases counted in the official daily tally.

Victoria recorded new 21,728 new coronavirus cases and six deaths on Friday as the state woke to new restrictions including the reintroduction of density limits in many venues.

Hospitalisations in Victoria have risen to 644, with 58 patients in intensive care and 24 on ventilators.

Originally published as New Covid vaccine mandate announced for NSW after state records 38,625 new infections