COVID-19 hospitalisations in the Illawarra Shoalhaven have risen sharply while Kiama has hit a new record for daily cases.
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There are 49 people with COVID in the local health district's hospitals, a 26 per cent increase on the 39 patients reported the day before.
Across NSW there are 1738 people with COVID in hospital, including 134 intensive care patients.
Thirty-three patients require ventilation.
The number of new cases in the Illawarra Shoalhaven fell from 1633 in the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday, to 915 the following day.
However, Kiama has seen a large increase in cases and hit a new record for the local government area: it has 147 new cases, almost double its the previous highest number of 78 seen two days prior.
There are also 505 new cases from Wollongong, 168 from Shellharbour and 95 from Shoalhaven.
NSW has again reported a record number of new cases, with 38,625 detected in the 24 hours to Thursday night.
Another 11 people, aged from their 50s to their 90s, have also died.
Premier Dominic Perrottet yesterday announced that NSW Health would include positive results from rapid antigen tests in its case data from next week. These will be registered through the Service NSW app.
Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said if someone was symptomatic and tested positive from a RAT, they should consider themselves a case, as should people who have had exposure to a known COVID case and tested positive.
She said someone who tested positive but had no known exposure to a case might consider getting a PCR test to confirm a positive RAT result.
Meanwhile, 93.6 per cent of people aged 16 and over have had two vaccine doses, as have 78.1 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds.
The vaccination program for children aged 5 to 11 begins on Monday.
Adults who had their second dose four or more months ago are urged to get a booster.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said NSW Health would administer about 300,000 booster shots each week across its 40 hubs from January 17.
Booster doses are also available from GPs and pharmacists.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
