NSW sets new COVID-19 record as 23,131 daily infections recorded
New South Wales has clocked a new COVID-19 daily case record, with 23,131 more infections identified overnight.
Hospitalisations have also increased, with 1344 people with the virus being treated, marking a 140 case increase from yesterday.
Of these 105 are in ICU, up 10 from yesterday.
Sadly, two more people have died with the virus.
A man in his 90s from western Sydney died at Westmead Hospital. He had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A man in his 70s from the Newcastle area died at John Hunter Hospital. He was a resident of the Kilpatrick Court aged care facility in Toronto, where he acquired his infection. He had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
There were 83,376 tests conducted in the past 24 hours with long testing lines continuing outside Sydney clinics today.
Dozens of clinics are closed temporarily as providers struggle to keep up with the numbers.
NSW Health has once again urged only those with symptoms, anyone who lives in a household with a confirmed COVID-19 case, or those who have been advised by authorities to seek a PCR test.
It comes as NSW Health said the testing system is “under enormous pressure”.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty has urged NSW residents to work from home where possible.
“We are encouraging people to work from home where it’s practical to do so, this will help minimise the number of people travelling to and from work and in the office,” he said.
Dr McAnulty said if you cannot work from home, you must wear a face mask.
Fears are also growing that the NSW hospital system is starting to buckle under the strain of the state’s fourth COVID-19 wave.
NSW Health has implored residents not to call Triple Zero unless absolutely necessary.
“We all need to play our part in not placing any unnecessary burden on the health system,” it said on Twitter.
“You should not call Triple Zero (000) or attend a hospital emergency department if you want to get a COVID-19 PCR test.”
Warning from top NSW doctor as COVID-19 hospital admissions grow
Victorian COVID-19 case numbers have also soared overnight with 14,020 reported this morning — up from 8577 yesterday.
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Three hospitals in Melbourne’s west have begged patients not to attend unless it was a genuine medical emergency.
