First Omicron case admitted to hospital in NSW as authorities urge nightclub patrons, contacts to test and isolate

Authorities have issued an alert urging those who visited a nightclub to test and isolate after “high transmission”, likely to be Omicron.

Authorities are urging any one who visited a NSW nightclub last week to test and isolate, along with their household contacts, after “high transmission” of Covid at the venue.

In a late night public health alert on Sunday, NSW Health updated its advice for The Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle after further transmission of Covid-19 at the venue.

The outbreak stemmed from an “ultimate RnB” party boat cruise on Sydney Harbour last weekend.

It comes as health authorities have confirmed a person infected with the Omicron variant has become the first to be admitted to hospital in Australia with that particular strain.

NSW Health confirmed the new case of Omicron in hospital in its daily Covid update on Sunday.

The health department also announced 485 new cases – ten have been confirmed to be Omicron.

More cases of the new strain are expected to be identified following the completion of genomic sequencing.

Two unvaccinated men, aged in their 70s and 80s, have died with the virus in Sydney hospitals overnight.

There are currently 156 cases admitted to hospital, with 23 people intensive care. Of these, seven require ventilation, NSW Health confirmed in a statement.

Public health alert for Newcastle nightclub

So far, 24 people linked to the The Argyle House nightclub have tested positive to Covid-19, NSW Health said in a statement.

A number of these cases are likely to be the Omicron variant.

All 680 people who checked in using the QR code from 9pm, 8 December to 3am, 9 December have been assessed as close contacts and must immediately get tested and isolate for 7 days.

NSW Health is appealing for anyone who did not check in using the QR code to urgently get tested and isolate, and for the community to ensure other potential attendees are aware of this advice.

Given the high transmission of Covid-19 at the venue, NSW Health is also asking household contacts of anyone who attended to also immediately get tested and isolate until the close contact tests negative.

NSW and Victoria both recorded a dip in cases. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

In Victoria, 1069 people tested positive and two people died, down from 1193 cases on Saturday.

There are 310 people in hospital with 74 in intensive care and 37 on a ventilator.

Meanwhile, Queensland has recorded one new case of Covid-19.

The case is a returned traveller from Nigeria and is in hotel quarantine.

Deputy Chief Health Officer James Smith said authorities were closely monitoring his case and have marked him as likely having the Omicron variant.

“We’re very closely following his genomic sequencing results which should be available in the next two days … obviously very interested whether this maybe Omicron,” he said.

It comes as the Queensland is set to finally reopen its border to NSW, Victoria and the ACT on Monday.

In the ACT, one new cases has been reported in the past 24 hours, with four people in hospital with the virus and two on a ventilator.