Almost one in three people whose tests were processed in the latest reporting period tested positive to Covid-19. Photo / Getty
Almost one in three people whose tests were processed in the latest reporting period tested positive to Covid-19. Photo / Getty
New South Wales Health has revealed a fully vaccinated man in his 20s with no underlying conditions has died from Covid in hospital as Omicron continues to spread across the state.
The state recorded 34,994 and six deaths today, including the young ACT man who died at St Vincent's Hospital in Darlinghurst.
"He had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and had no known underlying health conditions," NSW Health said in a statement.
"NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to their loved ones."
A further four men and one woman aged in their 60s, 80s and 90s also died from the virus overnight.
At the peak of the Delta variant outbreak on September 21, 1266 people were hospitalised, with 244 patients in intensive care and 118 people on ventilators.
Almost one in three people whose tests were processed in the latest reporting period tested positive to Covid-19.
The positivity rate, from the 111,231 PCR tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, was 31.46 per cent.
Testing capacity in NSW remains under enormous pressure with authorities urging only people with symptoms to get a PCR test or those who live in a household with a confirmed case.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced elective surgery could be paused amid rising hospitalisation rates.
"During the Delta outbreak, and the year before, we suspended elective surgery for a period of time," Perrottet told 2GB radio.
"That is certainly something we are looking at now.
"At the moment the healthcare system is strong, but we will need to make some changes - I suspect on elective surgery and I would also expect in terms of our work with the private health system."
Victoria broke its daily record on Thursday with 21,997 new Covid-19 cases and six deaths as people swamp testing centres and queue for vaccinations.
There are 631 people in hospital with the virus and 100 in intensive care units, including 22 on ventilators, according to the state's health department.
That is an increase from 591 Covid patients in hospital the previous day.
Almost one in three people whose tests were processed in the latest reporting period tested positive to Covid-19. Photo / Getty
Concession card holders will be able to access up to 10 rapid antigen tests over a three-month period for free, with costs split between the Commonwealth and the states.
It is understood Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, teaming up with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, pushed for the distribution system to be much simpler than what Prime Minister Scott Morrison had originally proposed.
"If you are symptomatic or a close contact and you are a concession card holder … do not go to the pharmacy. Go to the testing centre. We don't want people who are symptomatic or who are close contacts and may be carrying the virus going into pharmacies," he said.
The concessional free tests are being provided to those who have a Commonwealth seniors health card, a healthcare card, a low income card, a pension concession card, DVA Gold card or a DVA white card.
