First Australian case of Omicron Covid-14 variant admitted to hospital in NSW
First Australian is admitted to hospital with Omicron after dozens are infected with the new Covid variant
- NSW case with new Omicron variant admitted to hospital, officials confirm
- They are the first Australian with the new variant to be treated in hospital
- Among 156 NSW Covid patients in hospital as state’s Omicron tally grows to 55
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NSW has recorded Australia’s first hospital admission of Omicron, as cases of the new variant continue to rise.
The state recorded 485 new Covid-19 cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, as the growing tally of Omicron infections rose to 55.
Health officials confirmed one patient with Omicron is in hospital, becoming the first admission in Australia with the new variant.
The patient is among 156 Covid patients being treated in hospital.
Australia has recorded its first first hospital admission of the Omicron variant (pictured, passengers being tested at Sydney Airport
NSW Health has warned the number of Omicron cases will rise as results of genomic testing are confirmed.
NSW Covid cases have slightly dropped following two consecutive days of more than 500 infections.
Two deaths were recorded, a man aged in his 70s while the other man was in his 80s. Both were unvaccinated.
The state had on Saturday recorded the highest number of cases since October 9, two days before lockdown lifted.
It comes as dozens of demonstrators took to Sydney’s Hyde Park on Sunday to protest the introduction of vaccine mandates across several industries.
Health officials confirmed Australia’s first hospital admission of Omicron as protesters packed Sydney’s Hyde Park to oppose vaccine mandates
A string of existing restrictions are expected to be scrapped on Wednesday as planned, including density limits, QR check-ins risk venues, and masks.
Freedoms will also increase for the 6.9 per cent of the NSW population over-16 who aren’t fully vaccinated.
Experts have warned cases will continue to rise as restrictions are eased.
‘It is quite possible and quite likely that we will see a further increase with the unvaccinated being able to mix in those venues,’ infectious diseases specialist Sanjaya Senanayake told Weekend Today on Sunday.
‘However, New South Wales is very well vaccinated so hopefully we should be able to contain those increasing cases.’
NSW’s tally of Omicron cases currently stands at 55 and is expected to rise
Meanwhile, Victoria recorded 1069 new cases and two deaths as Queensland recorded one new cases.
The returned traveller from Nigeria currently in hotel quarantine ‘likely’ has the Omicron variant.
‘We’re very closely following his genomic sequencing results which should be available in the next two days … obviously very interested whether this maybe Omicron,’ deputy chief health officer James Smith said.
