Sydney: Australia on Thursday reported a large surge in Coronavirus infection, the day after Scott Morrison’s Prime Minister refused the locking or mask mandate to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant.
The most populous country, New South Wales, recorded 5,715 new cases, up from 3,763 and almost as much as recorded throughout Australia on Wednesday.
New South Wales also reported one death.
There were 347 people at the New South Wales Hospital, up from 302 days earlier, and 45 in the intensive care unit, up from 40.
The state of Victoria also saw a sharp increase, reported 2,005 new infections on Thursday and 10.
Morrison on Wednesday held Wednesday Cabinet meetings with state leaders and Australian regions.
He then told the locking reporters and the mask mandate was not considered.
The decision whether the gap between the second vaccine dose and booster shots will be shortened will be submitted to the Australian technical advice group about immunization.
“My message remains calm, get your booster, follow the steady behavioral steps when you go to Christmas and we look forward to it,” Morrison said.
“Australians have worked very hard to have this Krismas together and we want to protect it.” New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said after Wednesday’s meeting that the government worked to make a quick antigen test more easily available.
The previous test was rare and expensive.
“Providing a fast antigen testing kit for those who want to do the right thing to help take pressure from our testing clinic while giving people to confidence to continue their lives,” Perrottet said.
His state government continued to wash the mask but on Thursday announced it would require customers in business, hospitality and other places to check in by scanning QR code to help search contacts.
Victoria moves stronger, expanding current rules to require residents over 8 years to wear masks in hospitality, entertainment and office arrangements.
The new rules will take effect on Thursday’s midnight.
“This is a reasonable response that will allow businesses to stay open, bars and restaurants to continue to stay open and a big event to continue,” said Victoria Acting Premier James Merlino.
“Masks are a cheap and effective way to maintain public health.
This is something called by public health experts.” Australian Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said that wearing masks and other regulations were a problem for the country and the region to decide individually.
“But countries and territories with their public health orders, whether it’s a QR code in New South Wales, whether it’s a mask in Victoria, has responded well and I think it’s important for me to admit that,” he said.