Covid-19 Delta outbreak: NSW records 6394 new cases on Boxing Day

New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet will provide a Covid update mid day in NSW. Photo / NCA wire

NSW has hit a new record of cases with 6394 new Covid-19 infections on Boxing Day.

There have been no new Covid-related deaths, but there are 458 people in hospital with the virus, with 52 of those in intensive care.

There were 109,545 tests conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm on Christmas Day despite major queues and reports that some people were turned away.

It comes after the state set a previous record of 6288 infections on Christmas, up from 5612 infections on Friday.

The state also hit its first dose vaccination goal of 95 per cent coverage on Saturday.

Meanwhile Victoria recorded a drop in infections on Boxing Day with 1608 new coronavirus cases and two deaths.

That is less than Christmas Day when the state recorded 2108 new Covid cases and six deaths.

In Sydney, large crowds gathered at beaches for Christmas to beat the heat and ahead of celebrations for New Year's Eve.

NSW COVID-19 update – Sunday 26 December 2021

In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:

- 95% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 93.5% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/Ra9EmnKdGz

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 25, 2021

There were issues with testing queues on Christmas Day with Randwick's mayor Dylan Parker speaking out about reports he had heard that clinics were in "meltdown".

"Hundreds of people waiting in line for several hours with multiple drive-throughs shut," he posted on Facebook.

"Reportedly now Prince of Wales hospital is no longer accepting walk-ins as the line is too long.

"This mess was totally foreseeable."

Cr Parker said that all three of Randwick's regular drive-in clinics were closed on Christmas Day adding stress to ones that remained open as people sought tests for travel and ahead of gatherings.

A spokesman for Prince of Wales denied that people had been turned away but admitted that lines were long.