Covid-19 Australia: NSW records 45,098 new cases and nine deaths as restrictions return

NSW Covid-19 cases continue to climb with 45,098 new infections and nine deaths – as restrictions return and eye-opening statistics prove why Australia doesn’t need more lockdowns

• NSW reported a record 45,098 new Covid-19 cases and nine deaths overnight
• Raft of new restrictions reintroduced to help curb the spread of virus outbreak
• Singing and dancing in pubs and clubs are banned with major events cancelled 

By Aidan Wondracz For Daily Mail Australia and Australian Associated Press

Published: 22:05 GMT, 7 January 2022 | Updated: 22:18 GMT, 7 January 2022

NSW has reported a record 45,098 new Covid-19 cases and nine deaths as restrictions return to slow the spread of the outbreak.

The government tweaked restrictions, banning singing or dancing in pubs or clubs until January 27, except for weddings, performers or classes.

Some high-risk major events may also be contacted by health authorities and forced to implement restrictions to be deemed COVID-safe.

The Tamworth Country Musical Festival organisers on Friday announced the event, due to start in a week, would be postponed as a result.

The NSW premier has defended the decision to ease restrictions as the state’s Omicron COVID-19 outbreak took hold, after reinstating many of them within in a month 

Some high-risk major events may also be contacted by health authorities and forced to implement restrictions to be deemed COVID-safe 

The government on Friday announced non-urgent elective surgery will be suspended until mid-February, releasing new modelling that predicts the impact of the Omicron variant on the health system.

Under the ‘most realistic’ scenario, the state will need 4700 hospital beds at the peak of the outbreak, 273 of them in ICU.

Comparatively, at the peak of the Delta outbreak in September, there were 1266 people in hospital with infections and 244 in intensive care.

Asked several times whether easing restrictions in December, only to reinstate many of them within a month, was the right call, Mr Perrottet said the Omicron variant required a different response.

‘It is much, much less severe, and the approach we’ve taken is the right approach,’ he said.

‘Clearly in the middle of a pandemic, when cases arise, that will dampen confidence but ultimately, the alternative is to lock down.’

Asked if he’d give his government a ‘gold star’ for it’s decision-making, he doubled down.

‘The approach this government has taken every step of the way over the last two years has ensured we have one of the lowest death rates in the world, and at the same time one of the strongest economies in the world.’

Case numbers reached 38,625 on Friday with 11 reported deaths, while the number of people in hospital is just 1,738, with 134 in intensive care units

But state opposition leader Chris Minns has criticised his comments.

‘If that’s his idea of success, I’d hate to hear what his idea of failure is,’ he told reporters on Friday.

‘At the end of the day, the premier told the people of NSW who raised concerns about hospital overcrowding and rising case numbers that they were being alarmist or they were being bed wetters.’

Mr Perrottet on Friday also announced NSW will join Western Australia in requiring teachers, health workers and those in frontline disability roles to get a booster shot to be considered ‘fully vaccinated’ against COVID-19.

More to come 

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