Hospitals in South East NSW continue to adjust to surging COVID-19 case numbers, as the region records more than 1,000 active cases.
Southern NSW Local Health District's clinical services executive director Liz Mullins says there are 469 active cases in the Bega Valley, 399 in the Snowy Monaro and 197 in the Eurobodalla.
There are only 51 across the District, which also includes the Southern Tablelands and Queanbeyan area, in virtual care.
The criteria for the program, which allows health authorities to care for patients using phone and video technology while they isolate in their homes has recently changed.
"Obviously there are many, many, many more [cases] than we had before," Dr Mullins said.
"The criteria for that is much stricter, so it's for the more elderly, over 80 people, with serious comorbidities."
She said the changes recognised that most people diagnosed with COVID-19 would be able to overcome it by themselves.
"For most people, as in 20- to 30-year-olds, it's a relatively benign condition," Dr Mullins said.
"It's like a cold, or a few people get aches and pains, but it doesn't require high-level monitoring."
Staff absences take toll
The South East on Tuesday recorded 61 new cases, including 32 in the Snowy Monaro, 16 in the Eurobodalla and 13 in the Bega Valley.
Sixteen patients across the Southern NSW LHD are in hospital, including two in intensive care.
Dr Mullins said a new COVID-19 ward at South East Regional Hospital in Bega opened on Monday.
The high level of transmission has had an impact on staffing levels at hospitals across the Southern NSW LHD, with some elective surgeries including orthopaedics postponed to free up staff.
"Across the District, we've got 106 staff who are currently furloughed and that's a significant number for us," she said.
Demand for rapid antigen tests soar
There are now 2,186 patients in NSW with COVID-19 in hospital with the state recording 25,870 new cases on Tuesday.
Health authorities suspect the lower case figures, compared to higher numbers in recent weeks, is likely due to the shift towards people self-diagnosing using rapid antigen tests.
There are widespread reports of pharmacies in the South East having sold out of rapid antigen tests and waiting for further supplies.
Moruya Pharmacy co-owner Fiona Herbert said her business had resorted to using an automated phone service to tell customers they were out of tests in an attempt to help manage hundreds of calls each day.
"We are pretty under the pump ... the phone is just going crazy," she said.
The pharmacy has also been busy delivering booster shots and vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds.
"School is due to go back in a few weeks," she said.
"We're trying to ensure we can get as many children vaccinated, and that's in conjunction with our local GP's as well."
