NSW Covid: Daily case numbers ease from 30,000 to 20,000 with five deaths

NSW has recorded more than 20,000 new Covid cases as the state battles an infection surge fuelled by the latest variant of Omicron.

A sudden spike in NSW coronavirus cases has eased somewhat but the daily figure remains markedly higher than what has been seen over recent weeks.

The state recorded 20,087 new cases on Thursday, down by a third on the shock 30,385 figure reported the day before.

Authorities said Wednesday’s figures were inflated due to a data processing issue.

COVID-19 update – Thursday 17 March 2022

In the 24-hour reporting period to 4pm yesterday:

- 95.9% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 94.5% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/zgVGZ430dW

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 16, 2022

There are 1036 people currently in hospital with coronavirus – slightly higher – with 34 of those in intensive care and 17 on ventilators.

There were five deaths recorded in the 24 hours to 4pm on Wednesday.

There have now been 1994 Covid deaths in NSW. Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Daily cases had been hovering around 9000 to 16,000 in the first couple of weeks of March before accelerating rapidly from the weekend.

The last time the state recorded 30,000 cases in a day was back on January 20, just after the peak of the Omicron wave.

There have now been 1994 Covid deaths in NSW.