Service NSW logs more than 55,000 positive Covid-19 cases after RAT reporting made mandatory

A staggering number of people have logged positive rapid antigen test results in NSW just hours after the system went live.

More than 55,000 positive rapid antigen tests for Covid-19 were reported to the NSW government within hours of the system going live.

Residents have been told they must report their positive Covid-19 results through Service NSW, with an online portal launched on the app at 9am on Wednesday.

There were 10,150 rapid test results logged by 10.30am, which rose to 13,828 within half an hour.

By midday, more than 14,500 positive tests had been reported. At 4.30pm the figure had climbed significantly to 55,595.

NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said tens of thousands had reported their positive RATs to the government. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The positive tests include infections discovered by people testing themselves at home since January 1.

Because Wednesday was the first day it was possible to log the results through the Service NSW app, the day’s numbers represented a significant spike as people were told to report infections that were up to 12 days old.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the state would move forward with a mixed testing approach, urging people to use at-home rapid tests where possible instead of the “gold standard” PCR testing.

Rapid test kits remain in short supply and very high demand across the state, with widespread reports of price gouging at chemists and retail outlets.

Mr Perrottet said NSW residents who failed to register a positive rapid test would face a $1000 fine from next week.

He said the penalty would be in place from January 19, but did not explain exactly how it could be enforced.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says people who fail to report their positive rapid test result face a $1000 fine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Earlier on Wednesday, the state’s health department reported 34,759 infections detected from 134,411 PCR tests in the 24 hours to 9am.

There are now 2242 people in hospital with the virus, with 175 of those in intensive care, up from 2186 and 170 respective on Tuesday.

There were 21 deaths of people with Covid-19 reported on Wednesday.

It is the state’s highest number of deaths on a single day since the pandemic began early in 2020, surpassing the previous records of 18 deaths set on Monday and 16 on Sunday.

Before this week, the highest number of deaths on a single day was 15, reached on September 29 and October 1 last year during the Delta variant outbreak.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said a delay in recording people’s deaths contributed to the record number of fatalities confirmed on Wednesday.

Dr Chant said seven of the deaths included in Wednesday’s tally were people who died last year.

Four people were reported since December 23, one related to a death in October and another in September.

She did not say when the seventh historical death occurred.

More than 130,000 PCR tests were processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Robinson

Dr Chant said some Covid-19 deaths were reported to the coroner when they were unusual or the treating clinician was uncertain of the cause of death.

“As you know, the virus can be in people’s nose and throat for a long time, particularly when we use sensitive PCR testing,” she told reporters.

“The coroner has been swabbing all people admitted to their facilities and in those cases where there is a positive case, the coroner will determine whether it is clear cut.”

She said if the result was uncertain NSW Health would wait for the coroner to indicate whether the death was linked to a Covid-19 infection.

Health officials said the number of cases would be an underestimate until rapid tests were included in the daily tally.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says residents can log their rapid test results from Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Victoria also reported 21 Covid deaths in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday.

The state recorded 40,127 new cases from a mix of PCR and rapid tests.

There are now 946 infected people in Victorian hospitals, with 112 in intensive care and 31 on ventilators.

Victoria’s previous peak for Covid hospitalisations was 851 in October during a surge in Delta infections.

Originally published as Service NSW logs more than 55,000 positive Covid-19 cases after RAT reporting made mandatory