NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has told employers to stop forcing staff to get a Covid test before returning to work after the state recorded 34,994 new cases and six deaths.
Health officials collect Covid-19 swab tests at a drive-through testing site on Bondi beach in Sydney on 15 December 2021. Photo: AFP
Hospitalisations have risen to 1609, up from 1491, with 131 patients in intensive care.
Despite the federal government's relaxed requirements around getting PCR tests, the testing rate in NSW is rising.
Yesterday there were 111,231 Covid swabs taken compared with 108,844 the day before.
The NSW government today rolled out more mobile alerts and electronic road signs to advise people about the new rules which mean a PCR test is not needed after testing positive on a rapid antigen test (RAT).
NSW Health sent alerts yesterday urging people to avoid PCR testing unless they were symptomatic, a close contact or had been instructed to do so by health authorities.
Yesterday national cabinet slashed testing requirements so people with a positive RAT test are not required to get a PCR test, truck drivers no longer need regular testing and international arrivals will no longer be required to get multiple tests.
Victoria records 21,997 Covid-19 cases, six deaths and 631 hospitalisations
The number of patients with Covid-19 in Victorian hospitals has leapt to 631, as the state records 21,997 new cases and six further deaths.
The hospitalisations are the highest in the state since 6 November, and include 51 patients in ICU, with 22 people on ventilators.
A further 49 patients whose infections are no longer active are still receiving care in ICU.
The rise in infections marks a new record for the state and was detected from 64,861 test results, taking the test positivity rate to 34 percent.
Tasmania records 751 new cases of Covid-19 as authorities warn of surge
Tasmania has recorded 751 new cases of Covid-19 in the state, as health authorities warn the true number of active cases is likely much higher than what is being reported.
Five people are now in hospital with Covid, but only one person is specifically being treated for Covid-19 symptoms.
The remaining four were admitted for other medical conditions, and no patients are in intensive care.
There are now 3534 active cases of Covid-19 in Tasmania, with 237 people released from isolation in the last 24 hours.
A record 2958 tests were conducted at state-run clinics yesterday.
Yesterday, health authorities warned that "one in 50" Tasmanians will likely be an active Covid case in the coming week, with Public Health director Mark Veitch estimating one in 170 people have been infected already.
Speaking at a media conference yesterday, Dr Veitch said there were likely around another 3000 active cases in the state that have not yet been diagnosed due to accessibility issues with PCR testing.
- ABC