NSW's daily Covid cases jump to daunting 10-week high

Daily Covid-19 cases in NSW are the highest they have been since early May, while 20 more people have died as Covid surges around Australia.

On Wednesday, the daily Covid cases rose by 15,352 and there are now 2236 people in hospitals across NSW, with 63 people in the ICU.

The caseload is up from 13,544 on Tuesday and 9,761 on Monday. The new infections reported on Wednesday is the highest NSW has recorded since May 5 when 18,529 positive cases were recorded.

Covid cases have consistently been in the thousands since December last year after restrictions were scrapped and Australians were able to travel freely through most of the country.

Cases around Australia surge, Victoria's infections soar

Most states are reporting surges in new daily Covid cases. More than 50,000 new Australian cases were reported on Tuesday. The highest number of new daily cases around the country since May 19.

Victoria has seen its highest reporting of cases since May 25 when 13,023 new cases were reported. On Wednesday, there were 12,984 new cases reported and 28 Covid-related deaths.

Throughout June and July, daily cases in Victoria have usually been below 10,000, with a few exceptions.

Experts weigh in on more restrictions

Earlier this month, Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie proposed a return to working from home amid a rise in Covid cases.

During a meeting with new Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, Mr Cowie strongly recommended Victorians work from home "where practical to do so" until the end of August due to concerns over the BA.4/5 variants.

"Transmission of Covid-19 is increasing in Victoria currently because of BA4/5 variants of concern," he said in documents published by the state government under pandemic legislation requirements.

"I recommend that the three existing pandemic orders (Public Safety, Workplace and Quarantine Isolation Testing Order) be continued."

There is also a big push in Queensland for people to work from home after the number of people in the state hospitalised with Covid reached a pandemic high on Monday night with 983 admitted, the Brisbane Times reported.

Third Omicron wave yet to peak

Australians are being urged to get a third or fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine if they are eligible and help stop the spread.

It is expected the third Omicron wave is yet to peak and Australia's chief medical officer, Professor Paul Kelly, says the latest rise in cases is putting more pressure on hospitals.

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"Due to the number of cases, we may also see a rise in the number of people dying with COVID-19, particularly among those who are at higher risk of severe disease," he said.

"We cannot stop this wave of infections, but we can slow the spread and protect the vulnerable. We have done this before and we can do it again."

With AAP

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