NSW records 804 new COVID cases; highest daily total in 10 weeks
NSW has reported 804 new COVID-19 cases and one death.
Today’s tally is up from the 536 cases reported yesterday, and the highest daily total since 813 cases were recorded on October 2 (when Greater Sydney was in lockdown).
There were 86,562 tests in the 24-hour period to 8pm last night.
There are 168 coronavirus patients in NSW hospitals and, of those, 21 are in intensive care.
For the NSW population aged 16 and over, 94.8 per cent have had one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 93.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.
In 12- to 15-year-olds, the first-dose coverage is 81.4 per cent, and 77.7 per cent double-dose.
Yesterday, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said 65 cases of the Omicron variant had so far been detected across the state.
She said 84 COVID-19 cases had been linked to The Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle, pending genomic sequencing tests for the Omicron variant, with nearly 700 attendees deemed close contacts.
“We are expecting those [Omicron] numbers to actually jump quite significantly as those tests are performed,” Dr Chant said at the time.
Overnight, NSW Health issued a public health alert for Finnegan’s Hotel in Newcastle, labelling it a venue of concern.
Anyone who attended the Darby Street venue between 6.30pm on Friday, December 10 and 2.30am on Saturday, December 11 is considered a close contact and must get tested for COVID-19 and isolate for seven days.
All households contacts of close contacts must also get tested and isolate until everyone at their address receives a negative result.
Source: smh.com.au
