NSW will press ahead with plans to give a swathe of freedoms to unvaccinated people tomorrow, as the number of new daily Covid-19 infections rose to a 10-week high.
A woman wearing a mask walks past an image of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. (File photo). Photo: AFP
A total of 804 new cases were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday, 21 of which were the Omicron variant, prompting Health Minister Brad Hazzard to issue fresh warnings, and fire one last broadside at people who had shunned the jab.
"To the unvaccinated, it's not fair to health workers that you can be so selfish to think that being unvaccinated is OK," Hazzard said.
"Give up on the current views you have and go get vaccinated."
In just 24 hours, new infections jumped in NSW from 536 to 804.
It is the highest daily total recorded since 2 October when 814 cases were confirmed and a significant increase from this time two weeks ago when there were 179 infections in 24 hours.
There are now 85 cases of the Omicron variant of concern in NSW but chief health officer Kerry Chant said she expected more over the coming days as genomic testing continued.
"We are of the belief that Omicron transmission is accounting for our increase case numbers at present," she said.
A prom-themed event at a nightclub in Newcastle last week has triggered a sharp increase in cases in the Hunter region.
Yesterday there were 28 new Covid-19 cases in the Hunter New England region, today that number jumped to 224.
Dr Chant said of the 650 people who attended the super-spreading event at the Argyle House nightclub, about 150 had tested positive to Covid-19 so far.
However, hospital rates remain low in the state, with 168 people currently being treated for Covid-19 and 21 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
This is the lowest number of patients in ICU since July 18.
NSW recorded one death during the reporting period - a woman in her 60s in the Albury area who was not vaccinated.
Hazzard said he was concerned about the rise in the number of cases but the government was committed to keeping its promises of eased restrictions.
"At the moment, our government here in New South Wales is very keen to get us all back to normality ... to our previous life."
He said his main fear was people not understanding the importance of getting a booster shot.
"I really am concerned as health minister that there's a lot of people in NSW who think it's two doses and that's it, no it's not.
"For heaven's sake, go and get your booster."
The federal government has now cut the waiting time for a booster from six months to five and the Moderna vaccine has also been provisionally approved for use, joining Pfizer as a booster option for adults.
A total of 94.8 percent of the population aged 16 and over has had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 93.2 percent have had two doses.
Tomorrow, unvaccinated people will be permitted to return to non-essential retail businesses, hospitality venues and gyms.
QR check-ins will only be mandatory in select places including hospitals, gyms, pubs and clubs and places of worship.
Face masks will also no longer be mandatory in many settings.
Experts are still investigating Omicron's severity and reaction to vaccines, but of the 85 Omicron cases in NSW there is only one in hospital.
Several of the people who caught Covid-19 at the Argyle House club in Newcastle are expected to have Omicron and authorities say it has become one of the biggest spreading events in the world.
"Because Omicron can spread so quickly ... and because of the high level of transmission at this event, it's probably going to be one of the highest transmission events this year in any single venue probably anywhere in the world," Hunter Health director David Durrheim said.
Anyone who was at the club between 9pm on Wednesday 8 December, and 3am on Thursday 9 December is considered a close contact but despite the growing cluster, Hazzard has ruled out any snap lockdowns in the Hunter region, or anywhere else in NSW.
Three of the nightclub patrons are linked to a party boat cruise on Sydney Harbour two weeks ago, which has been connected to a number of Omicron infections.
- ABC