NSW and Victoria records highest no of COVID-19 cases and Australia makes major changes to isolation rules

NSW and Victoria records highest no of  COVID-19 cases and Australia makes major changes to isolation rules

NSW reported 12,226 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and one death, and Victoria has also broken its record for new cases with 5137 new infections and 13 deaths on Thursday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called a snap meeting of national cabinet on Thursday responding to the Omicron outbreak that has caused a surge in cases around the country.

As testing clinics across the country are overrun and thousands of people are spending their holiday period in isolation, State and territory leaders will discuss a range of problems relating to the rampant spread of the virus fuelled by the Omicron variant and the resulting pressure on the test, trace and isolate measures.

Australian epidemiologist criticized  Scott Morrison’s proposed COVID isolation measures as premiers and territory leaders meet with the Prime Minister to discuss redefining and relaxing close contacts and seek clarity on the use of rapid antigen tests.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid argues the plan will increase transmission and accelerate cases.

“Omicron spreads more easily than any other variant,” Dr Khorshid said on Twitter.

On Wednesday, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant warned “there is probably more disease in the community than the numbers reflect” as testing laboratories clear backlogs.

The daily caseload hit 11,201 new infections on Wednesday - up more than 5000 on the previous day’s 6062 - along with three deaths.

The spiking case numbers follow NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard’s December 15 warning that modelling suggested “by the end of January, we could be looking at 25,000 cases of the virus every single day”.