3.9k Share this
Of the 20 new cases on Sunday, 19 were linked to known outbreaks and one case remains under investigation, with a link to any known clusters yet to be established.
The Department of Health said the cases were now all in quarantine.
“Some of today’s cases have been infectious while in the community,” a statement read.
“Contact tracers are working with these cases to determine potential public exposure sites.”
The state’s total number of active COVID-19 cases sits at 147.
Of these, eight infections are in hotel quarantine, 138 are in self-quarantine and one is in hospital.
A Perth nightclub has been marked as an exposure site of concern, with WA Health urging anyone who attended the ‘Club Bootylicious’ event at the Library Nightclub between 9:30pm on 22 January and 5am on 23 January to be tested immediately and isolate until they return a negative test result.
While anyone with symptoms in the South West and Wheatbelt regions has been urged to get tested immediately.
NSW records 52 deaths, 13,524 new cases of COVID-19
The reported cases include 6032 positive RAT tests and 7492 positive PCR tests in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
There are 2663 people with COVID-19 in hospital today, including 182 patients in ICU.
More than 95 per cent of people over 16 have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 94 per cent of people over 16 have had two doses.
Meanwhile, 38.8 per cent of people have had three doses.
NSW Health said this includes both immunocompromised people who have received a third dose and all people over aged 18 who have received a booster.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed health authorities have detected a new sub-variant of Omicron known as BA.2.
“We have had four sequences identified as BA.2,” Dr Chant said.
“For clarity, this is a sub-lineage, a breakaway subvariant from the Omicron variant.
“We know that it is circulating in countries and we have seen it grow significantly, so for instance in Denmark it is now the dominant over BA.1.
“We are seeing its prevalence, the proportion of BA.1 grow in some other countries so we think it may have some growth advantage over the BA.1, the original Omicron, but at the moment we don’t see that it is presenting anything different clinically in terms of the severity or its response to vaccine.
“We’ll obviously be watchful (and) monitor the situation closely.”
Queensland records 8580 new cases, 13 new deaths as back to school plan announced
In the last 24 hours the state recorded 8,580 cases from almost 23,000 tests.
There is currently 745 people being treated in Queensland’s hospitals for the virus.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said as part of the state’s back to school plan, all teaching staff will be required to wear a mask.
“Masks will continue to be required for all staff and students at high schools – and highly encouraged for primary school students in Year 3 and above – when classes resume,” the Premier said.
“Rapid antigen tests will also be available to students and staff who develop symptoms at school, while those who develop symptoms at home will have priority access to rapid antigen tests at Queensland Health clinics.”
Unlike NSW and Victoria, Ms Palaszczuk said she has not received health advice that called for rapid surveillance testing of students.
Victoria records 10,589 new cases and 20 additional deaths
Of the positive cases, 6,110 were the result of rapid antigen tests while 4,479 came from traditional PCR testing.
There are now just over 78,000 active cases of the virus in Victoria.
A total of 38 per cent of Victorians aged over 18 have received their booster shot while 93 per cent of residents aged over 12 have had at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Australian Capital Territory records 584 new cases
The Australian Capital Territory has recorded 584 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths.
This includes 377 positive PCR test results and 207 positive rapid antigen test results.
There are 62 people with COVID-19 in hospital, including three people in ICU.
South Australia records two deaths, 1,633 new cases of COVID-19
South Australia has recorded an additional two new deaths as a result of COVID-19 and 1,633 new cases overnight.
There are now 289 SA residents being treated in hospital with the virus.
The two deaths were both men aged in their 80s.
Source: 9News
