Further rise in Covid case numbers likely after test mix-up in NSW

A further rise Covid-19 case numbers is on the cards in NSW, with more infections found from fewer tests on Boxing Day.

NSW posted another daily record of cases on Sunday with 6,394 new infections, a slight uptick from Christmas Day despite 40,000 fewer tests.

The tally does not appear to include more than 400 people who initially received a negative result on Christmas Day but were then notified they had tested positive on Boxing Day, which if included would push the national tally to over 10,000 cases.

The incorrect results pertained to people who had been tested on December 22 and 23.

The mistake, attributed to human error, is being investigated as concerns remain those who took the initial negative result as reassurance to attend events were unknowingly infectious in the community.

The revelation came as NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned everyone in Australia was likely to be infected with the Omicron variant at some stage.

More than four in five residents aged between 12 and 15 are fully vaccinated. This increases to 93.5% for people aged 16 and over.