Sydney: The Australian Government says the lighter impact of the Omicron strain from Covid-19 means that the country can push ahead with a plan to reopen the economy even when the new infection reaches a record of more than 37,000 and the number of people being hospitalized.
Daily case number record was reported on Monday in the state of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, and the Australian capital area.
In New South Wales, there are 20,794 cases, higher than Sunday numbers but under a 22,577 daily record set on Saturday, with lower testing numbers over the New Year holiday weekend.
The total national daily reached a record of more than 37,150 cases, exceeding 35,327 cases of Saturday, with Western Australia and the northern region still reported.
“We have to stop thinking about case numbers and thinking about serious illness, live with viruses, manage our own health and ensure that we monitor these symptoms and we maintain our economy,” Scott Morrison’s Prime Minister told the Seven Channel.
Inpatient rises to 1,204 in New South Wales, up more than 10% from Sunday and more than three times on Christmas day.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the suggestion to the government was that omicron strains were more contagious but also lighter than other variants, which reduced the risk of individuals and health systems.
Michael Bonning, Chairman of the New South Wales Board of Australian Medical Association, said a significant increase in hospitalization combined with the peak holiday period and the number of health workers exposed to Covid at capacity.
“With the Christmas period and with hairworking workers are hairy because of their close contact status …
We found that it became very difficult for staff, especially the important areas of the hospital,” he told ABC Television.
At the end of December, the government changed his advice when people had to get a free PCR test for Covid-19, and called for the use of greater fast antigen tests, some to eliminate pressure on testing capacity.
But a quick antigen test in a short supply, and Morrison said the government would not cover costs for people to test themselves, which he put at $ 15 ($ 10.90).
“We are at another stage of this pandemic now, where we cannot spin and make it all free,” he said.
Eight deaths from Covid have been reported on Monday, taking national toll road through a pandemic to more than 2,260.