Omicron causes case numbers to double across country as 500,000 record smashed

Covid case numbers across the country have doubled in less than two weeks, with authorities saying they don’t know the full extent.

The nation’s deputy chief health officer says we may not know the full extent of case numbers despite the country surpassing a major Covid-19 milestone.

There have been more than 500,000 confirmed Covid cases, with that milestone leapfrogged on Tuesday.

Almost 50 per cent of those cases have been confirmed in the past two weeks.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in the country on December 21 was 259,207. As of noon (AEDT) on Tuesday, there were 543,839 cases.

Health authorities across the country anticipate the number could be much higher, but issues with testing mean the true numbers are not being recorded.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Dr Sonya Bennett was asked about the positive test rate and what the real numbers might actually be.

“The data is not entirely telling us what's happening … I think that's fair to say,” she said before drawing on the example of the number of Covid cases being detected in hospitals after people are admitted with other ailments.

“The are numbers of people being hospitalised for different reasons and (then they) happen to have Covid.

People have been waiting for hours at testing centres. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

“There are certainly many more cases of Covid in the community we are not aware of.”

Dr Sonya said that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because much of the time it was younger Australians who were being infected and they were experiencing milder illnesses.

“Many might not know they have it or it's just a sniffle, so they are not overly unwell,” she said.

“If there are more cases we don't know about, then the impact on the system is even less than we anticipate now.”

PCR testing centres across the nation are under increased pressure as the Omicron variant spreads, with rapid antigen tests unavailable or too expensive.

The disturbing milestone coincides with daily case number records being smashed in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, and the ACT.

NSW has surpassed its own record on Tuesday, with more than 23,000 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in the state. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

NSW

Australia’s most populated state surpassed its own daily Covid-19 record on Tuesday, recording 23,131 new cases.

That comes from 83,376 tests in the last reporting period – a positive testing rate of 27.7 per cent.

There are 1344 people in hospital, 105 of whom are in intensive care.

Two people have died in the past 24 hours due to Covid-19.

Victoria

Victoria recorded its first five-digit daily case number on Tuesday, with a confirmed 14,020 new cases.

The state recorded two deaths in the latest reporting period.

There are 516 people in hospital, 56 of whom are in intensive care. Twenty-four people are on ventilators.

There were 60,515 tests in the last reporting period, meaning there was a positive test rate of 23.2 per cent.

Testing centres were forced to turn people away on Tuesday morning as the system faced being overwhelmed by the surge in cases.

Covid testing at Melbourne Town Hall reached capacity before 9.30am on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Crosling

Queensland

The Sunshine State recorded its largest daily case number on Tuesday, with a confirmed 5699 new Covid-19 cases.

There were 33,312 tests in the past 24 hours – 23 per cent of which were positive.

There are now 25,920 active cases in the state, 70 of whom are in hospital, including 11 people in ICU.

Queensland chief health officer John Gerrard said if people were experiencing any respiratory symptoms and cannot get a test – due to long lines at PCR testing sites and a shortage of rapid antigen tests – they should assume they have Covid-19 and stay at home.

The line up for a drive-through testing centre in Brisbane’s north stretched for kilometres on Tuesday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire/John Gass

Tasmania

The island state confirmed a record 702 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total number of active cases to 2244 after reopening its borders last month.

There were 2088 tests conducted on Monday, meaning the positive testing rate is more than 33 per cent.

Three people are in hospital, but none are in intensive care.

Eleven aged care homes were plunged into lockdown on Monday after confirmed Covid-19 cases among staff and residents.

ACT

The capital recorded its biggest daily case number on Tuesday, with a confirmed 926 Covid-19 cases.

There are 13 people in hospital, including one person in ICU. One person is also ventilated.

Tuesday’s case numbers are almost double that of Monday.

While Australia passed the 500,000 total case numbers on Tuesday, authorities believe the number could be much higher. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

South Australia

South Australia recorded its largest ever jump in daily case numbers, with 3246 confirmed on Tuesday.

There are 102 people in hospital with Covid-19, 12 of whom are in intensive care.

Premier Steven Marshall said test results were taking a shorter time to process, back down from up to 26 hours.

But, there are anecdotal reports of people still waiting up to five days for a result.

Northern Territory

The Top End recorded 75 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, the third highest daily case number in the territory’s history.

It’s down from 103 cases reported on Sunday, and 78 on Monday.

It comes as the NT drops its requirement for interstate travellers to get a PCR test before they arrive.

Those arriving to the NT will now be given a rapid antigen test to do within two hours of their arrival.