Kerry Chant urges people with “mildest of symptoms” to stay home

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has urged anyone with “the mildest of symptoms” to spend New Year’s Eve at home.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant is urging NSW residents to stay home on New Year’s Eve and connect with family and friends over social media after the state recorded a massive spike in new cases of Covid-19.

NSW almost doubled its case numbers on the last day of the year, with 21,151 confirmed cases of the virus and six new deaths on Friday.

There are 832 people in hospital with the virus, up from 746 on Thursday, while six more people have been admitted to intensive care taking the total to 69, 39 of whom are unvaccinated.

Dr Chant outlined how the changes to close contact definitions and testing requirements agreed on at national cabinet would come into effect in NSW, still urging anyone with symptoms to go out and get a PCR test.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant is urging NSW residents to stay home on New Year’s Eve and connect with family and friends over social media after the state recorded a massive spike in new cases of Covid-19. Picture John Grainger

“The situation in NSW reflects the international experience with Omicron, where we are seeing a rapid doubling rate but we are protected with high vaccination coverage,” Dr Chant told reporters on Friday.

“It stresses me when I review the ICU admissions and see the amount of people who aren’t vaccinated.”

Dr Chant is pleading for people to be safe during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

“If you’ve got the most mild of symptoms please just stay home and connect on social media,” she said.

“Just don’t go out.”

For those that do go out for the celebrations, Dr Chant is urging them to avoid mingling in large groups and hold events outside where possible.

“It’s important to remember that COVID-19 is active in our communities and people are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, particularly in indoor environments,” Dr Chant said.

“If you’re inside, keep your gathering small and make sure the area is well ventilated by opening doors and windows.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday revealed the new changes to close contact definitions and testing requirements across each State and Territory, all agreeing on a “very practical way forward”.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the meeting was “incredibly constructive, helping NSW to “come out strong” in 2022.

“As we move through this next phase if you’re not required to, then please don’t line up,” he told reporters .

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the national cabinet meeting was “incredibly constructive, helping NSW to “come out strong” in 2022. Picture: John Grainger

Health Minister Brad Hazzard described NSW as being “the envy of the world”, as Sydney prepared to bring in the New Yea around the harbour.

More than 2000 public health staff are out of action either diagnosed with Covid-19, or a close contact.

When questioned about the new rules and whether Rapid Antigen Tests would be made available to NSW residents for free, Mr Perrottet said the state put in an order for 50 million tests.

“We’re working through it now and we expect the main set of these orders to arrive in mid-January,” he said.

“Off the back of the changes yesterday, clearly there will be some challenges in lack of access to the tests, but we are working through that challenge.”

“We will ensure those tests are provided to those who need them.”

Dr Chant said while some people would self-diagnose at home, there was no specific system for infected people to upload their results to health authorities.

“At the moment if you have a positive test, get tested with a PCR and it will link you into care,” Dr Chant said.

Members of the public and health workers at a pop up Covid testing clinic at Bondi Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

There were 148,410 tests conducted in the state in the past 24 hours.

In NSW, 95 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of the vaccine, while 93.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Victoria also broke its record for daily cases on Friday with 5919 new infections and seven deaths.

There are 428 infected people in hospital across Victoria – up from 395 on the previous day – with 54 in intensive care and 21 on a ventilator.

More than 93 per cent of eligible Victorians are fully vaccinated and the state hosts 28,044 active cases.

A total of 66,774 tests were taken yesterday and 3798 vaccines were administered at state hubs.

The new definition of testing and isolation came into effect in five jurisdictions at midnight Thursday, which include NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and in the ACT.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a press conference in Parliament House Canberra, after the national cabinet meeting. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Tasmania will follow on January 1 with the Northern Territory and Western Australia will be making announcements in future.

A close contact is now a household contact of a confirmed case only.

Mr Morrison said a household contact was someone who lived with an infected person or had spent more than four hours with them in a house, accommodation or care facility setting.

“So, you are only a close contact if you are, effectively, living with someone or have been in an accommodation setting with someone for more than four hours with someone who has actually got Covid,” he said.