Australia Covid update: positive test rate in NSW hits 20% high as Omicron cases surge

The positivity rate for Covid-19 cases in New South Wales has hit a high of 20% as the number of people in hospital with the virus passed 1,000 for the first time since the highly-contagious Omicron variant arrived.

The positivity rate also reached 20.3% on Sunday, meaning one in five people tested had Covid, well above the 5% the WHO deemed an acceptable rate of infection at the beginning of the pandemic.

The state recorded 18,278 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, a drop on the previous two days following a significant fall in the number of tests conducted. NSW Health said that 90,019 people had been tested in the previous 24 hours, down from 119,278 in the previous reporting period.

The fall in testing follows frequent urging from the NSW government for people not to line up for PCR tests unless they have symptoms or have been deemed a close contact.

The government has also changed its definition of a close contact in line with changes agreed to by National Cabinet last week.

Covid rates continue to rise across the country with 7,172 cases in Victoria and three virus-related deaths, while Queensland reported 3,587 cases.

In South Australia, premier Steven Marshall announced 82 people were in hospital after the state recored 2,298 new Covid cases from 21,140 tests performed yesterday. Seven people were in ICU.

Tasmania also recorded 404 new cases with three people in hospital and a positivity rate of 26% from 1,542 tests performed. The high rate comes after changes to testing requirements that ask only those with symptoms to get tested.

But while cases in Australia continue to reach record levels, there is growing evidence Omicron may lead to milder symptoms.

Of the 112 people in Queensland who are in hospital, only five were being treated in intensive care.