- COVID-19 cases in NSW have shot up to five digits in an Australian first
- The state recorded 11,201 new cases today, nearly double yesterday’s 6062
- The virus has now sent 625 people to the hospital and 61 patients in intensive care, placing further pressure on the state’s medical system
- Enormous queues at testing sites and continued delays for COVID results have been reported in the state over the last week
- Early this morning Queensland government announced it was going to scrap its requirement for interstate travellers to submit a negative COVID-19 test before entering the state
New South Wales’ COVID-19 cases have nearly doubled in one day, with 11,201 new cases and three deaths reported today.
This is the highest daily case number recorded in any Australian jurisdiction, with 157,758 tests.
The virus has now sent 625 people to the hospital, 61 of which are in intensive care, placing further pressure on the state’s medical system as thousands of workers are forced into isolation.
Enormous queues at testing sites and continued delays for COVID results have been reported in the state over the last week.
Many testing sites around NSW continue to operate on reduced hours over the Christmas and New Year period or have not reopened.
The NSW government has been blaming the testing chaos on pathology staff being exhausted, people getting swabbed unnecessarily, and the Queensland government.
11k daily cases recorded in NSW. And this is what a testing line looks like this morning. Wonder how many more with symptoms are being turned away or simply can’t face queues like this. pic.twitter.com/GYHCXRut1u
— David Lipson (@davidlipson) December 28, 2021
Early this morning, the Queensland government announced it was going to scrap its requirement for interstate travellers to submit a negative COVID-19 test before entering the state on January 1.
Yesterday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was hoping Queensland would axe the PCR requirements sooner, saying if they can do it New Year’s Day she could do it even earlier.
NSW Health said most of the 625 people currently in hospital had not received two doses of the vaccine.
Yesterday, the state recorded 6062 new cases from 93,581 swabs.