A small decrease in NSW Covid cases with 485 new infections, while 1069 people in Victoria test positive

NSW enjoys a small drop in Covid cases with 485 new infections, while 1069 people in Victoria test positive for viruses

• In NSW, 90,804 tests were recorded within 24 hours until 20:00 on Saturday
• Health authorities worried Christmas parties are running a large number of cases
• NSW Health worried about 140 passengers on a cruise in Sydney Harbor

By Greta Stonehouse for the Australian Associated Press

Published: 00:19 GMT, 12 December 2021 | Up to date: 06:51 GMT, 12 December 2021

NSW has registered 485 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths as the number of cases decreases after two consecutive days with more than 500 infections.

The state had on Saturday registered the highest number of cases since October 9, two days before the lockdown was lifted, and the second in a row with more than 500 cases.

In Victoria, there have been 1,069 new Covid infections and two virus-related deaths. This is the seventh day in a row that Victoria has registered more than 1,000 virus cases.

The state now handles nearly 11,400 active coronavirus cases. There are 310 Covid patients in Victorian hospitals, 74 of them in intensive care and 37 in need of ventilation.

NSW’s double dose vaccination rate for people over 16 is 93.1 percent. In Victoria, 92 percent are fully vaccinated among those aged 12 and over

The total number of deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began is 1,416.

In NSW, 90,804 tests were recorded within 24 hours to 6 p.m. 20 Saturday, while 67,300 results were processed in Victoria.

The double-dose vaccination rate for people over the age of 16 in NSW has reached 93.1 percent. In Victoria, 92 percent are fully vaccinated among those aged 12 and over.

As of Saturday night, 156 people were in hospital with the virus in NSW, 23 of them in intensive care.

Genomic testing of additional Omicron cases continues with state numbers up to 45 from Saturday.

The waiting time to receive a Covid booster will be reduced from six months to five in an attempt to combat the spread of the new variant.

Federal Health Secretary Greg Hunt says data from Israel shows booster jabs lead to reductions in infection rates and deaths.

Omicron is also a concern in Victoria, where authorities responded to three existing Omicron infections on Saturday.

“One of the positive cases is a returning traveler who was previously identified with the Omicron variant while in hotel quarantine,” the health department said.

‘The other two positive Omicron cases sat together in the same row on a plane that landed in Melbourne from Dubai on 30 November.

“A third person who also sat in the same row has tested positive for Covid, and genomic sequencing is on its way to confirm the variant.”

Health authorities have expressed concern about the spread of Covid-19 at gatherings over Christmas

Health authorities are also continuing to worry that the Christmas celebrations are increasing the number of cases and calling for caution.

“Obviously, we’ve seen a number of outbreaks recently across Sydney,” said NSW Health’s Dr. John Hall Saturday.

“We reiterate how important it is for people not to participate in social functions if they have symptoms, even if they are mild.”

NSW Health is already struggling to contain several major transmission events.

A trivia night at a pub in Sydney sparked a new cluster of cases in which at least 46 guests tested positive for the virus after attending the Oxford Tavern in Petersham on 30 November.

Authorities are also concerned about 140 passengers embarking on a cruise in Sydney earlier this month, which has so far resulted in at least five cases of the Omicron variant.

Omicron means booster shot more importantly

By the Australian Associated Press

Health Secretary Brendan Murphy says the emergence of the Omicron variant of coronavirus makes it more important to get a booster vaccination.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization has approved the Moderna vaccine as a booster shot for Australians aged 18 and over.

Like the other mfNA Pfizer booster vaccine, it can be used regardless of what a person has received for their primary vaccination course.

ATAGI, chaired by Professor Murphy, has also confirmed that booster doses can be given from five months after the completion of the primary course.

This was previously recommended to be six months from another dose.

“In light of the Omicron variant, we believe boosters will be much more important,” Professor Murphy told reporters in Melbourne after receiving his Modern Booster shot with Health Minister Greg Hunt.

The ‘Omicron’ variant is likely to spread worldwide. It is also very exciting that we now have Moderna as an alternative booster. ‘

Modern booster dose is half the primary dose.

Hunt and Prof Murphy got the AstraZeneca vaccine for their first two shots.

Hunt said it did not matter if you had Pfizer or Moderna as a booster short.

“None of us think about the brand of our flu vaccine, we should not think about the brand of our Covid vaccine,” Hunt said.

The government will soon release a campaign to promote the booster shot up to Christmas and into the new year.

He said more than 670,000 Australians had already received more than two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

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