In the past 24 hours to Satuday, there were over 20,000 new cases in New South Wales, with Victoria climbing over 13,000.
Authorities in Western Australia are keeping the state borders closed indefinitely while seven new Covid cases on Saturday.
Victoria currently has 1,002 in hospital, 120 in ICU and 44 on ventilation, counting14 fatalities.
The cases reported, however, may not be accurate, due to pressure on the system, experts say.
The number of patients being treated in hospital with COVID-19 in NSW had dropped for the third time in a week as the state records 34 deaths.
Authorities say the total number being treated in hospital has fallen to 2,712, down 50 from the previous reporting period.
Patients in intensive care also dropped to 189, down from 204.
Meanwhile in NSW a total of 20,324 new cases were reported, taken from 6,704 RAT tests 13,620 PCR swabs.
Eve though the percentage of children aged five to 11 years is low in the state, Mr Perrottet has deemed January 28 a “non-negotiable” start of Term 1.
“Getting schools back on track on day one is incredibly important for kids and for parents because we know that, if schools don’t go back, 5 per cent of the workforce is also taken out,” he said yesterday.
On a similar note, twice-weekly rapid antigen tests will be “strongly recommended” for staff and students and teachers will be required to have a booster dose, the Victorian government has revealed as the state unveils its back-to-school plan.
The government will give more than 14 million of the rapid tests to schools and early childhood settings as 30 school pop-up vaccination sites will also open on site.
Mask-wearing will continue to mandatory indoors for all students in years 3 and above in both states.
Remote learning will be considered “only as a localised, short-term last resort”, the government said.
In order to cover for staff shortages due to isolation and illness, retired teachers and educators will be working in a “job pool”.
Asymptomatic teachers will also be returning to work.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAcOZP#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/5v3x3U1Hw7
— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) January 22, 2022
As epidemiologists agree that Omicron has reached its peak in Victoria and NSW, Australia’s bigger states still struggle with a “shadow lockdown” due to many businesses having to shut their doors due to the spread.
More to come.
