Omicron COVID-19 cases expected to grow in NSW and Victoria

NSW recorded total of 804 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday, 21 of which were the Omicron variant, prompting the Health Minister to issue fresh warnings to people who had shunned the jab.

In just 24 hours, new infections jumped in NSW from 536 to 804 and highest daily total recorded since October 2 when 814 cases were confirmed and a significant increase from this time two weeks ago when there were 179 infections in 24 hours.

However NSW will press ahead with plans to give a swathe of freedoms to unvaccinated people tomorrow, despite the number of new daily COVID-19 infections rose to a 10-week high.

"To the unvaccinated, it's not fair to health workers that you can be so selfish to think that being unvaccinated is OK," Brad Hazzard said.

"Give up on the current views you have and go get vaccinated."

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.

Mr 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."

Victoria has recorded 1290 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths. That’s up on yesterday’s 1069 cases.  There are now a total of six confirmed cases of the new strain in the state, as health authorities investigate another nine suspected infections.

At least three new cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 linked to an international flight that landed in Melbourne from Dubai last month.

There are 323 people in Victorian hospitals with COVID-19. Of those, 77 active cases are in intensive care. Forty are on a ventilator. The Victorian government says 92 per cent of residents aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated against the virus.

Health authorities said genomic testing was under way to confirm the nine suspected cases.