Non-urgent elective surgery has been cancelled in NSW as the state grapples with growing COVID cases.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Premier Dominic Perrottet announced NSW Health and Service NSW were working on a system which would require residents to report positive PCR tests to authorities.
"As we've seen those significant queues have eased in relation to PCR testing, we are making an announcement today that as we move to rapid antigen tests over this next period of time we will be counting those positive RAT test... as we have with PCR testing," he said.
"So what we would say to people today as we move through this period, is if you do receive a positive rapid antigen tests, that you register that through Service NSW and NSW Health.
"NSW Health and Service NSW have been working on - and it will be available next week by mid-next week - a system. If you do have a positive rapid antigen test that you do treat that as if it is a positive PCR test and isolate in accordance with the rules that are in place."
Mr Perrettot said 50 million rapid antigen tests should arrive in the state early next week.
"We will have something to say in the next few days about the distribution of those rapid antigen tests in conjunction and alongside the distribution that will be occurring at a federal government level," he said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The government also flagged they would be releasing updated hospital capacity modelling.
"What is encouraging from this model is even on a worst-case scenario we have the capacity in our health system right now," he said.
Elective surgery will be suspended until mid-February.
"In order to assist the health system during this period of time, just like we did during the Alpha outbreak and the Delta outbreak, today we are announcing we will continue to suspend elective surgery for non urgent surgerie, that's category three, which is elective surgery that's non-urgent in the next 365 days," he said.
Mr Perrettot announced no singing or dancing in hospitality venues would be allowed from tomorrow but major events would go ahead.
He encouraged residnets to avoid mingling and host events outdoors where possible.
Finally, Mr Perrottet announced the vaccination mandate for many frontline workers would be exanded to include mandatory boosters.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.bordermail.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @bordermail
- Follow us on Instagram @bordermail
- Follow us on Google News.