NSW positivity rate hits 27.74 per cent, 23,131 new Covid cases

NSW has reported 23,131 new Covid-19 cases and two new deaths as hospitalisations rise to higher levels than at the peak of the Delta outbreak.

NSW has reported 23,131 new Covid-19 cases and two new deaths on Tuesday.

There are 1344 people in hospital with the virus, including 105 in intensive care.

With 83,376 tests undertaken, that puts the positivity rate at 27.74 per cent.

The World Health Organisation defines “controlled” outbreaks as those with positivity rates of less than 5 per cent.

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.

NSW Health said the two deaths reported on Tuesday included a man who contracted the virus in his aged care home.

The man, aged in his 70s, lived at the Kilpatrick Court aged care facility in Toronto, Lake Macquarie.

Another man, aged in his 90s, from western Sydney died at Westmead Hospital.

Health officials said both men had received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

Of the over 16 population, 93.6 per cent are now double-dose vaccinated, while 95 per cent have had at least one shot.

There were 83,376 PCR tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday, a drop on the daily volume in recent weeks.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has repeatedly said he is confident the healthcare system can cope. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

The NSW positivity rate has hit 27.74 per cent. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has repeatedly urged people only to come forward for PCR testing if they have symptoms or if they have been directed to get one by NSW Health.

State and territory leaders have agreed to shift away from “gold standard” PCR testing, which requires laboratory analysis and is placing enormous pressure on pathology systems with such a high volume of samples.

In most cases people are now being told to take a rapid antigen test (RAT) that involves a self-administered mouth or nasal swab and can be done at home in a bid to relieve hours-long queues and even longer wait times for results from PCR tests.

It isn’t clear how people who test positive on a RAT will have their cases collated by NSW Health, so the number of infections in the state may be even higher.

Scott Morrison is resisting calls to provide free RATs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The federal government has agreed to fund half the costs of rapid tests that have been purchased by the states and will be free for close contacts and people working in high-risk settings.

But Scott Morrison continues to resist calls to provide free RATs for all Australians despite people across the country struggling to buy them from sold-out chemists and supermarkets.

The Prime Minister said on Monday he didn’t want to “undercut business” by providing the kits for free.

“We‘re at another stage of this pandemic now where we just can’t go around and make everything free,” he told Sunrise.

“We have to live with this virus. This isn't a medicine, it’s a test. And so there’s a difference between those two things.”

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley has criticised the Prime Minister. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley took a swing at the federal government in response.

“What we’re seeing consistently from the Prime Minister is his ability to transfer responsibility to the states,” he said.

“The states clearly have a view that freely available rapid antigen testing, as part of an ongoing response to Omicron, forms part of what should be a national response.”

Victoria recorded 14,020 new infections on Tuesday, smashing the state’s record, while another two people died.

Rising Covid-19 cases and hospitalisations, coupled with medical workforce shortages, continue to place intense pressure on parts of Australia’s healthcare system.

Victorian and NSW residents have been urged not to present to hospital emergency departments unless they really need to in a bid to reduce some of the strain.

Daily infections continue to increase across the country, with Tasmania recording 702 new cases of Covid-19 in its last reporting period, a rise from 466 yesterday.

Three people are in Tasmanian hospitals with the virus, but none are in intensive care.

There were 2088 tests processed on Monday, marking a positive test rate of 33.6 per cent.

Cases in the ACT almost doubled to 926 on Tuesday from the 514 reported on Monday.

Hospitalisations increased by two to a total of 13 patients on Tuesday, with one person in intensive care and requiring ventilation.

Queensland Covid-19 cases have hit a new daily high with 5699 on Tuesday, breaking the previous daily record of 4249 infections set on Monday.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath is reporting there are 25,924 cases now active in her state.

Originally published as NSW positivity rate hits 27.74 per cent, 23,131 new Covid cases