NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned yesterday infections could rise to 25,000 a day. This followed the high number of cases for Thursday, December 16, totalling 1,742 which has surpassed for the first time in months the cases reported in Victoria. The cases reported for today, Friday, December has even gone up to 2,213. Health authorities are predicting this could be the beginning of a major surge in case numbers over the next month.
The high transmission rate and concerns over the Omicron variant have prompted NSW Health to issue a "red alert" for hospitals which restricts the number of people allowed to visit healthcare facilities.
From yesterday, patients will be permitted to have visitors for compassionate reasons only as well as to provide essential needs including supporting women in childbirth and for palliative care.
Authorities require that all visitors must be fully vaccinated, comply with mask-wearing rules and follow the advice of medical staff.
"NSW Health has not made this decision lightly," a statement from NSW Health said.
"We must always prioritise our vulnerable patients and staff who are arguably the most vital workers needed in a pandemic."
It is possible to be exempted from this directive made by local health districts on a case-by-case basis but NSW Health said it would continue to monitor developments and make changes where necessary.
The high case numbers come a day after most remaining social distancing restrictions were scrapped and unvaccinated people were given new freedoms for the first time since June. It's the highest number of cases recorded in NSW in a day, breaking the previous highest tally of 1,603 on September 11.
Added to the high number of cases is the concern over Omicron cases now being at 122, after another 12 cases of the variant were reported overnight.
A party at a theatre in Sydney's CBD has been linked to 97 confirmed COVID-19 cases and is now a venue of concern.
People who were at the On Repeat: Taylor Swift Red Party at the Metro Theatre on George Street on Friday, December 10, from 9pm onwards are now considered close contacts.