SYDNEY, Dec 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) – COVID-19 cases in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), surged to a three-month high in a matter of days, as the state battles the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Today, NSW reported 1,360 new COVID-19 cases and one death. It marks the highest daily increase since the state’s Delta wave, when 1,599 cases were reported on Sept 11.
Cases have mounted at an alarming rate, with 804 new cases reported yesterday, and 536 on Monday, representing a 50 percent increase in daily cases and more than doubling every two days.
Health authorities attributed the sudden growth, in part, to a number of super spreader events, involving the Omicron variant of concern.
NSW Health has warned that, the instances of these events could increase as the state heads into the Christmas season.
“As the states reopen in time for Christmas and the holiday season, we are urging NSW residents to remain vigilant in managing their personal health and that of their family,” said Senior Medical Advisor for NSW Health, Dr. Jan Fizzell.
Despite this, the state has moved ahead with its reopening. From today, skilled workers and foreign students have been allowed to enter the country. Mask wearing would only be mandatory while using public transport, and unvaccinated people would gain the same freedom as the vaccinated.
Professor Marylouise McLaws, epidemiologist from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), said, it was surprising that the state has not learnt from previous waves, when it comes to mask wearing.
“I am surprised that Omicron hasn’t prepared both state and federal to change and say: ‘Let’s be precautious and require people to wear masks.'”
And while the surge in cases has not yet translated into hospitalisation, she warned that NSW has previously had a lag time, of about 10 days, between new cases and hospitalisations.
“You can’t always assume, because we’re not seeing hospitalisation now, with Omicron, that it’s all good,” said McLaws.
“We should actually learn from lived experience.”
Today, NSW Health reported that 166 people were in hospital with COVID-19, a number that has remained steady with recent weeks.– NNN-AGENCIES
