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NSW records 30,825 COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths, man charged with theft of rapid antigen tests
By Daniella White
NSW has reported 30,825 new COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths as Premier Dominic Perrottet defends the government’s management of the pandemic amid increased pressure on the state’s hospitals.
There are 2781 people in hospital with the virus, of whom 212 are in intensive care units.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says the government is confident it can manage the pressure on the healthcare system.Credit: Nick Moir
Of the new cases, 13,178 were detected from at-home kits and 17,647 from PCR tests.
The numbers are a decrease on the 32,297 infections and 2863 hospitalisations reported on Wednesday.
The new cases come after a high-ranking doctor from one of Sydney’s biggest hospitals lashed the “politically driven” management of the pandemic. NSW’s hospital system is under huge strain with about 5300 healthcare staff on leave due to COVID-19 exposure.
In a video briefing to junior staff, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital executive clinical director Professor Paul Torzillo told doctors that directives from state and federal health departments were being filtered by the hospital to determine what was appropriate for staff and patients.
Mr Perrottet said he was confident the state’s healthcare system was tracking better than best-case scenario modelling.
“That doesn’t mean the system isn’t under pressure, we are monitoring it with our health systems each and every day,” he said on ABC TV on Thursday morning.
“They’re doing an amazing job co-ordinating our health response while we’re under significant pressure.
“We are confident here, as we sit, that we have the capacity to manage, and the investments that we’ve made in the past have ensured that’s the case. But that does not mean that our health teams are not under stress.”
Of the 25 deaths recorded on Thursday, 16 were of men and nine were of women. One person was aged in their 30s, two in their 50s, five in their 60s, five in their 70s, seven in their 80s, four in their 90s and one was older than 100.
Sixteen had received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, one had received one dose and eight were not vaccinated.
NSW Health said the person aged in their 30s had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and had serious underlying health conditions.
The 17,647 positive PCR results were returned from 73,259 tests, resulting in a positive rate of 24 per cent.
A man has been charged with the theft of rapid antigen tests.Credit: NSW Police
Meanwhile, a man has been charged after 42,000 rapid antigen tests were allegedly stolen from Sydney’s south.
Police said the tests, believed to be worth about $500,000, were taken from a freight depot at Botany about 3.20pm on Tuesday.
Three men were arrested about 4pm on Wednesday at a storage facility in Rosebery, where police searched two units and seized a number of items.
They were taken to Mascot police station and interviewed. Police said the men have since been released “pending further inquiries”.
A 37-year-old man will face court charged with the theft of rapid antigen tests.Credit: NSW Police
A fourth man, 27, was arrested at Mascot police station about 7.40pm on Wednesday. He was charged with dishonestly obtaining property by deception.
The man was refused bail and is expected to appear at Central Local Court on Thursday.
Mr Perrottet said the alleged theft of the rapid antigen tests was “a disgraceful act”.
“The police will catch you,” he said on Wednesday.
“At a time when everyone across our state has made incredible efforts in keeping people safe, in making sacrifices, what a disgraceful act.”
The alleged theft comes amid an ongoing shortage of the at-home tests across the country and widespread reports of price gouging.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission this week revealed it had received nearly 2000 reports of tests being sold for as much as $100 per test.
The consumer watchdog’s chairman, Rod Sims, warned retailers selling rapid antigen tests for more than $20 that they must “urgently explain” the inflated price tag.
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