Victoria has recorded 2738 new cases in the past 24 hours, 739 more than yesterday, however, the state’s hospitalisation rate has dropped.

The numbers have come out of more than 65,000 tests conducted across the state.

Unfortunately, four people passed away with the virus as 361 remain hospitalised.

Delays in results, which can currently take over 90 hours to process are still putting a lot of strain in health services and are also affecting travellers’ plans.

Several people have taken to social media to complain about not being able to go to work or leave the state to travel while they wait for their test results, sometimes for more than three days.

Find a vaccination centre at https://t.co/79rnPe0zaX

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/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/3qMsmM1yP7

— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) December 27, 2021

Meanwhile, in New South Wales there are 6062 new COVID-19 cases and one death as chaos ensues at testing centres. There are currently 557 people in hospital, with 60 of them in intensive care.

Following yesterday’s announcements regarding over 1400 false negative results having been sent out to people who were in fact positive and contagious in the community, Sydney’s testing centres are still in disarray with a few having to turn people away.

According to 9News there were queues at drive through testing sites where cars have been lined up for over 12 hours to get tested at 8am today. The majority of drivers were not lucky.

NSW COVID-19 update – Tuesday 28 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/9lbOQBHVSj

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 27, 2021

Moreover, the testing rules in SA are putting more strain on the country’s health system as well as the economy. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised to move to a rapid antigen testing requirement but no sooner than 1 January.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard openly accused the Queensland government of lacking common sense in its demand for PCR tests to cross the border.

Active cases per state:

  • NSW 52.5k
  • VIC 17.8k
  • SA 4.0k
  • QLD 3.6k
  • ACT 688
  • NT 156
  • WA 20
  • TAS 198