South Australians have been urged to take up booster shots following a dip in the state's vaccination rate and Queensland's updated indoor mask rules have taken effect.
Catch up on all the latest coronavirus news from across the country in our COVID wrap.
You can jump to the COVID-19 stories you want to read by clicking below.
- NSW records 18,278 COVID-19 cases and two deaths
- VIC records 7,172 COVID019 cases and three deaths
- Queensland mask rules reintroduced as state records 3,587 new cases
- Tasmania records 404 new COVID-19 cases
- ACT records 506 new cases
- SA records 2,298 new cases, as Marshall expresses disappointment with vaccination drop
- NT records 95 new COVID cases
- One new local WA case not linked to backpacker cluster
NSW hospitalisations rise by 165 as healthcare staff ordered back to work
Heathcare staff are returning to work in New South Wales after changes to isolation rules, as the state's health system battles the strain of increasing COVID cases.
The state recorded 18,278 cases on Sunday, with the number of people in hospital increasing from 901 to 1,066.
Two people have died and 83 people are in intensive care.
In the 24 hours to 8pm, 90,019 tests were carried out.
With pressure building on the state's health system and staff, isolation rules for asymptomatic staff have been reduced.
But under an exemption to the Public Health Order signed by Health Minister Brad Hazzard, these staff can now be ordered back to work.
Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation NSW president Tony Sara said the pressure on the system was enormous.
"We're loading our hospitals with COVID-positive patients who need to be in hospital," Dr Sara said.
"Staff in NSW will wear full PPE consistent with the circumstances, that will be face shields, it will be masks and gowns.
Over three-quarters of Victoria's cases now Omicron
In Victoria, there are 472 people in hospital with the virus, including 52 patients in intensive care.
The state now has more than 31,000 active cases, while 715 people have died in the current outbreak.
The latest infections were detected from more than 48,000 coronavirus tests processed on New Year's Day.
The COVID-positive rate has continued to rise, with 15 per cent of people being tested returning positive results.
The Health Department confirmed the highly transmissible Omicron variant is now responsible for more than three-quarters of infections acquired over the Christmas period.
Clusters linked to the St Paul's Cathedral, Ms Collins nightclub in Melbourne, and St Vincent's Emergency Department are still the main outbreaks of concern.
Queensland's updated mask rules take effect as state enters 'new battle' against COVID
The Queensland Treasurer says the state is "entering a new battle against COVID-19", as he urged Queenslanders to get vaccinated, wear masks and work from home where possible.
Cameron Dick's message came as the state recorded 3,587 new COVID cases on Sunday and on day one of updated mask-wearing rules.
The state now has 16,688 active cases.
From today, masks must also be worn in indoor spaces. Here are some examples:
- workplaces
- waiting rooms
- libraries
- hairdressers
- nail salons
- hospitality venues and indoor stadiums, except when seated
The move aims to slow the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable locations, with an outbreak forcing the lockdown of a Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and 12 cases identified in the Torres Strait.
Torres Strait community leaders also want to restrict non-essential travel to try to protect the region.
"We want to make sure that we slow the movement of people, we had another scare within the border peninsula, which led to another small outbreak," Torres Shire council Mayor Vonda Malone said.
Across Queensland, five people are in intensive care, but none require a ventilator. There are 112 patients in total requiring treatment in hospital.
Two of the five in ICU are pregnant women; one is vaccinated and one is unvaccinated.
Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said it was vital pregnant women get the jab.
Tasmanians warned about interstate travel as state records 404 new cases
Sunday's cases take the total number of active cases in Tasmania to 1,219.
It follows the 428 cases announced on Saturday and 137 cases the day before.
Almost 92 per cent of the state's eligible population aged 12 and over are double vaccinated.
Over the weekend, Premier Peter Gutwein said Tasmanians travelling interstate should consider the likelihood of contracting the virus.
"Your travel plans may be interrupted because you may become positive yourself … or you may be a close contact," he said.
The ACT records 506 new cases — another daily record
Nine people are in hospital as a result of the virus, with one person in intensive care requiring ventilation.
There are now 1,827 active cases of the virus in the territory.
More than 98.5 per cent of residents aged 12 and older have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
SA Premier urges booster take-up amid vaccination dip
South Australia's Premier Steven Marshall has expressed disappointment with a dip in the state's vaccination rate, as the state recorded 2,298 new COVID cases today.
Mr Marshall urged South Australians to book in for boosters as soon as possible following a drop in the state's vaccination rate on New Year's Day.
"My strong advice to the people of South Australia is that we are massively surging our vaccination capacity in South Australia today — a further 1,000 appointments were made available at Wayville [clinic].
"We really need to see each and every one of those taken up. There are now tens and tens of thousands of people who are due for their booster."
The state has 82 people in hospital with the virus including seven in intensive care, but Mr Marshall said the state's health system was "very much within our current capacity".
"We see a lot of admissions but also a lot of people are leaving hospital on a daily basis after their conditions have stabilised."
More cases recorded in remote parts of the Northern Territory
Multiple cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Kakadu National Park and East Arnhem Land, as the virus continues to spread throughout the Northern Territory.
The NT recorded 95 new cases on Sunday, with cases reported in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Jabiru.
Three new cases have been detected in Jabiru, a small town in the Kakadu National Park and six have been reported in Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land.
Of the new cases, 14 are classed as community transmission, while 28 are still under investigation.
There are currently 26 people being treated in hospital, but none are in intensive care.
An indoor mask mandate is currently in place across the NT.
WA records one new local case, not linked to backpacker cluster
Western Australia has recorded one new local COVID case on Sunday, a hotel quarantine worker who health authorities say is not linked to the state's recent Delta backpacker outbreak.
WA Health says the new case is a vaccinated hotel quarantine security guard who returned a positive test result during a routine daily oral swab.
He was being transferred into quarantine on Sunday. Three close contacts have been tested and are in isolation. All are asymptomatic.
WA authorities are investigating how the guard contracted the virus and what variant he has.
They have released a number of potential exposure sites.
There are currently 39 known active COVID cases in WA. Six new cases were recorded in returning overseas travellers and interstate travellers. They are all in quarantine.
