COVID may be underreported at the moment as people move to Rapid Antigen Tests. Photo: Damien Larkins.
The number of new COVID-19 cases and people in hospital have fallen today, but that may be due to some underreporting as people move to using Rapid Antigen Tests.
In the 24 hours to 8 pm yesterday there were 1078 new cases recorded, down from 1508 the day before, and five fewer people in hospital, at 23, including three in intensive care and two being ventilated.
But there were also fewer negative test results received in the 24 hours to 9 am today – 3586, down from 4436 yesterday, and the hospital figures are likely to fluctuate.
The number of ACT residents aged 12 and over who are fully vaccinated has edged up to 98.6 per cent, and more than a quarter of those aged 18 and over have received their booster shot, at 25.6 per cent.
The number of active cases in the ACT is now 5601, but that is expected to jump when people can notify their RAT test results online.
The ACT will receive a million RATs from NSW on 17 January.
NSW has experienced its deadliest day ever in the pandemic, reporting 21 deaths from COVID-19, but seven of those are historic cases dating as far back as September.
Authorities had been waiting on the findings of coronial inquests before linking some of the deaths to the virus.
NSW recorded 34,759 new cases in the 24 hours to 8 pm last night and now has 2242 patients in hospital, including 175 in intensive care and 54 requiring ventilation.
This brings the total number of active cases to 333,235, but the real figure is much more with many people using Rapid Antigen Tests.
NSW conducted 134,411 PCR tests in the last 24-hour period. From today, people using RATs will need to notify their results online with Services NSW, so a clearer picture of the virus in the community should emerge.
Failure to report a positive result could incur a $1000 fine.
Genomic testing has shown 90 per cent of active cases to be the Omicron variant and 10 per cent Delta.
Victoria also suffered 21 deaths and has recorded 40,127 new cases based on a combination of PCR and Rapid Antigen Tests.
The number of people in hospital is also climbing and is now near the 1000 mark at 946, with 112 in intensive care, including 31 patients on ventilators.
The number of active cases has risen to 209,715, although, like NSW, the figure is likely to be more than that.
The number of people who have died in the current outbreak is now 792, while the total figure for Victoria is 1614.
About 18 per cent of Victorian adults have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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