Hospitalisations have also increased, with 1344 people with the virus being treated, marking a 140 case increase from yesterday.
Of these 105 are in ICU, up 10 from yesterday.
This follows 83,376 tests being conducted in the past 24 hours.
Today’s number come as fears grow NSW’s hospital system is starting to buckle under the strain of the state’s fourth COVID-19 wave.
NSW Health has imploring residents not to call Triple Zero unless absolutely necessary.
“We all need to play our part in not placing any unnecessary burden on the health system,” it said on Twitter.
“You should not call Triple Zero (000) or attend a hospital emergency department if you want to get a COVID-19 PCR test.”
ICU Society President Dr Mark Nicholls told Today yesterday healthcare workers are exhausted even though the Omicron strain, which accounts for most of the state’s cases, is less severe.
The state saw a near-record 20,794 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, and four deaths, with 1204 coronavirus-positive patients being treated in hospital.
“There is always the potential for a system to come under strain, and also potential for the system to be overwhelmed, even with a less virulent organism,” he said.
“After the wave that we had in NSW and also in Victoria, staff are tired and they’re fatigued.”
Victorian COVID-19 case numbers have also soared overnight with 14,020 reported this morning — up from 8577 yesterday.
Source: 9News
