Sydney, Jan 13 (BNA): Australia Thursday reported the highest number of pandemic cases with the runaway Omicron outbreak driving up hospitalization rates as the surge put severe strain on supply chains, forcing authorities to relax quarantine rules for more workers.
After successfully containing the virus earlier in the pandemic, Australia has reported nearly a million cases in the past two weeks as people slowly adjust to living with the coronavirus amid fewer restrictions. The total number of infections detected since the start of the epidemic has approached 1.4 million.
More than 147,000 new cases have been registered so far on Thursday in Australia, of which about 92,000 are in the most populous state of New South Wales (New South Wales), although that includes a backlog of positive results at home dating back to the beginning of the month. January, according to Reuters.
Net new hospital admissions and people admitted to intensive care have reached their highest levels in the pandemic, but authorities have said health systems can handle the rising cases.
A total of 53 new deaths have been reported so far, as NSW suffered its deadliest day of the pandemic with 22 deaths. But the mortality rate during the Omicron wave is lower than in previous outbreaks in Australia, where more than 92% of people over 16 years of age are taking a double dose and the enhanced drive is intensified.
Amid pressure on supply chains, Victoria state authorities on Thursday exempted more workers from quarantine requirements for being in close contact. Employees in emergency, education, and transportation services can return to work if they are symptom-free.
“There is no quick fix for this,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said during a media conference on Thursday. “These are changes of common sense, and they will help but they are not everything, and there is no simple solution.”
Victoria’s move comes ahead of a meeting of the National Cabinet – the group of federal and state leaders – later on Thursday at which Prime Minister Scott Morrison will propose steps to ease pressure on commercial supply chains.
Queensland decided on Thursday to fully open its internal borders for the first time in nearly two years with travelers not required to carry border passes and negative COVID-19 results.
HF