Christmas Day infections in NSW surge to record 6288 cases, QLD cases rise to 765

NSW and Queensland have both reported their highest ever Covid infection figures on Christmas Day as the Omicron variant keeps spreading.

NSW has set a new record for the highest number of daily cases since the pandemic began as it reached 6288 infections on Christmas Day.

The state’s cases have continued to increase since Omicron started to spread and restrictions were eased.

On Friday, there were 5612 new infections and a woman in her 90s from south western Sydney died from the virus at St George Hospital.

This was a leap of almost 2000 from Wednesday, when 3763 infections were reported.

It comes as Queensland also hit a new record with 765 new Covid-19 infections for Christmas.

Meanwhile Victoria recorded 2108 new Covid-19 cases bringing the total number of its active infections to 17,599.

NSW’s latest coronavirus tally has been released. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Gaye Gerard

From Christmas Eve, residents in NSW have been required to wear masks indoors.

Density limits on hospitality venues and mandatory QR check-ins will be in place from Boxing Day.

The rules were put back in place in response to Omicron’s influence on the daily case numbers and are expected to remain until January 27.

Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the changes on Thursday, saying they were “modest” and “cautious”.

“As we move through this holiday period to the end of January the system is in a very strong position,” he said.

While Omicron is much more transmissible, chief health officer Kerry Chant said the strain appeared to be less severe than Delta

“The early signs are encouraging,“ she said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the mask mandate on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Currently, 388 people are in hospital, with 52 people in intensive care.

There were 149,261 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, 95 per cent of residents aged 16 and over have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine while 93.5 per cent are double jabbed.

There are also 78.3 per cent of people aged 12-15 that are fully vaccinated.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said authorities expected 1000 cases a day. Picture: Annette Dew

In Queensland, residents have been told health authorities ”expect” having 1000 cases a day.

“We are close to 1000 and we will get 1000 cases a day. That's what we expect,” Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said on Saturday.

“Those exposure sites are going to get longer and longer.

“This virus is everywhere now and we have to assume everywhere we could be exposed.”

She said it was “inevitable” infections would rise as most people gathered with family and friends.

Currently, about 650 people are in isolation in the state.