New South Wales has recorded another national COVID-19 case high as residents prepare to ring in the new year.
There were 21,151 cases on Friday, a massive increase from Thursday’s 12,226 infections, as infections surged more than 70 per cent in a single day.
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The new cases were from 148,410 tests.
NSW also had six COVID-related deaths.
Virus hospitalisations are up at 832 and of those, 69 are in intensive care.
More than 93.5 per cent of residents aged over 16 have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Test results have been delayed after surges in the number of people seeking tests in the week before Christmas.
Changes to NSW restrictions
Friday’s figures come as changes to testing for international arrivals and isolation requirements for close contacts and cases changed.
NSW is now asking people not to seek PCR testing unless they are experiencing coronavirus symptoms or have been advised to get one because they are a close contact of a confirmed case.
Following an emergency meeting of national cabinet on Thursday, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said his state would adopt a “more balanced approach ... that suits the circumstances of the time”.
The state is putting faith in rapid antigen tests and is awaiting the arrival of 50 million tests that have been ordered.
The rules for international arrivals will be changed so the thousands of people flying into Sydney daily can obtain a rapid antigen test rather than joining the queue at testing clinics.
Close contacts and people who test positive for COVID-19 will only have to isolate for seven days.
The Australian Medical Association expressed their concern at the new arrangements, saying the amended definition appeared to “put politics over health”.
Testing centres across the state will hand out rapid antigen tests over the coming weeks, but tests will not be provided for free across the board, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday says.
- with AAP