Covid cases and deaths spike in NSW and Victoria
NSW and Victoria's daily Covid cases and deaths have increased once again.
NSW Health announced 18,512 new infections on Tuesday stemming from 9,090 rapid antigen positive test results and 9,422 PCR positive tests.
There have also been 29 virus-related deaths, an increase from 24 on Monday.
There are 2,943 people in hospital — the highest the state's ever seen during the pandemic and a huge jump from 2,816 the day prior — with 183 in the ICU, dropping from 196.
Victoria has recorded almost 15,000 new cases and 29 deaths.
It has been exactly two years since Australia recorded its first Covid case, with the country now battling an explosion of Omicron infections.
Two days after Wuhan was forced into lockdown on January 23, 2020, Covid was detected in a Victorian man in his 50s who had visited the Chinese city. Two more infections were discovered in NSW later the same day.
Last week, Australia surpassed two million total Covid cases. There have been 3,212 lives lost.
Covid mask rules extended in NSW
During a press conference on Tuesday, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced restrictions reimposed late last year to halt the variant's spread will be extended for another month.
They include wearing a mask indoors, density limits and no singing or dancing in venues.
He described the move as a "cautious, safe and measured" approach, given cases are expected to increase as children return to face-to-face learning in schools.
Mr Perrottet said the NSW government would commit funding to clear the surgery backlog when the pressure had eased on NSW public hospitals.
"As soon as we ... get advice from our medical teams that we can bring that non-urgent elective surgery back we will do so.
"It's a key focus of ours ... that we would get that back on track as quickly as possible," he said.
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Victoria records 29 Covid deaths
Victoria’s health department announced 14,836 new daily cases on Tuesday from 8,539 RAT results and 6,297 PCR positive tests.
The state has also recorded another 29 deaths, a spike from 17 on Monday.
Of the new deaths, 12 had passed in the previous two days, Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said during a press conference.
There are 1,057 residents in hospital, an increase of 59, with 119 in the ICU and 45 on ventilators.
Victoria has 183,154 active cases across the state.
The latest figures come as schools across the state are receiving rapid antigen tests in the lead-up to students and teachers returning to classrooms next week amid the Omicron wave.
With AAP
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