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The positivity rate for Covid-19 cases in NSW peaked 20% as the number of people hospitalized with the virus surpassed 1,000 for the first time since the highly contagious Omicron variant arrival.
The number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in the state on Sunday surpassed 1,000 for the first time since the Omicron variant saw the number of cases rise, increasing by 18% in a day after the number had already doubled between Boxing Day and New Years Eve.
The positivity rate also reached 20.3% on Sunday, meaning one in five people tested had Covid, well above the 5% that the WHO deemed an acceptable infection rate at the start of the pandemic. .
The state recorded 18,278 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, a drop from the previous two days following a significant drop in the number of tests carried out. NSW Health said 90,019 people had been tested in the previous 24 hours, up from 119,278 in the previous reporting period.
The drop in testing follows frequent requests from the NSW government that people not line up for PCR tests unless they show symptoms or have been considered contact narrow.
The government also changed its definition of close contact in line with changes agreed to by the National Cabinet last week.
“The testing capacity in NSW is currently under enormous pressure and the only people to get a PCR [nose and throat swab] should be those with symptoms of Covid-19; live in a household with a confirmed positive Covid-19 case; or have been otherwise advised by NSW Health to get tested, ”the health department said in a statement on Sunday.
“Interstate travelers and international arrivals are not required to undergo a PCR test and instead should perform rapid antigen testing, according to the guidelines of the respective states and territories.”
Covid rates continue to rise across the country with 7,172 cases in Victoria and three virus-related deaths, while Queensland reported 3,587 cases.
The extreme heat caused the closure of eight of Victoria’s test sites on Saturday, removing queues and waiting times for test results.
Early Years Minister Ingrid Stitt said the state’s health minister will make an announcement on expanding access to rapid antigen testing in a few days.
“We will have more to say in the coming days on how we distribute rapid antigen tests for those who are eligible to use them as a way to ensure they stay safe from Covid,” she said. .
Queensland’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr John Gerrard said on Sunday that among the state’s current cases there were 112 hospitalizations.
But as cases in Australia continue to reach record highs, there is growing evidence that Omicron may cause milder symptoms.
A study from Imperial College London found the risk of being admitted to hospital is up to 70% lower for people with Omicron compared to those infected with Delta.
Of the 112 people hospitalized in Queensland, only five were being treated in intensive care.
“The problem we are facing is of course that with the degree of contagiousness of this virus, we are going to see a very large number of cases, although the severity is clearly going to be less, we are going to see a very large number of cases and a small proportion of a very large number is always a large number, ”Gerrard said.
The speed of Omicron infections around the world worries global health authorities, who warn that even a milder variant could put health systems into overload.
Last week, WHO Europe Covid Incident Manager Catherine Smallwood, warned that a “rapid growth of Omicron … even if associated with slightly milder disease, will still result in high numbers of hospitalizations, especially among unvaccinated groups, and will greatly disrupt health systems and other essential services “.
In New South Wales, it is increasingly evident that the state’s healthcare system is teetering under the rate of infections. The health department announced late on New Years Eve that under “exceptional circumstances” frontline workers who are asymptomatic close contacts will be exempted from self-isolation for seven days, to avoid disruption of key services. a decision labeled by the experts proof of an “extremely desperate situation”.
It followed revelations in a Leaked memo revealing St George’s Hospital in southern Sydney were already planning to bring in nurses in an attempt to deal with staff shortages and rising Covid cases.
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Sources 2/ https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/02/australia-covid-update-positive-test-rate-in-nsw-hits-20-high-as-omicron-cases-surge The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
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