There are 2576 people in hospital with the virus, including 193 in intensive care, with both figures up on the previous day.NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has praised NSW residents and frontline workers for their efforts in dealing with the pandemic.Mr Perrottet insisted the state was “on the way out of this”.“This Omicron variant has had its own set of challenges … but we have a very strong health system and the best healthcare workers in the country,” he told Nine Entertainment.“We will come through this together like we’ve come through every challenge over the last two years and I believe we’ll return to normal very soon.“I know it can be easy to be negative but I think we have a lot to be positive about in what is a very challenging time for our state.”While the state’s health system is “feeling the strain” from Omicron, Mr Perrottet insists it will not buckle under the pressure. “The health system is under pressure in this state, just like right around the country and right around the world as we move through this pandemic.“It is going to be a difficult few weeks ahead but the tracking that we are releasing is very reassuring and encouraging given where we sit today in the pandemic.”Chief health officer Kerry Chant also warned about four million people would catch the virus before the ongoing wave subsided.Despite the modelling showing NSW’s ICU and hospitalisation numbers were tracking better than initially anticipated, Health Minister Brad Hazzard pleaded with the “relatively small number” of residents who had “not bothering to get vaccinated” to do so. He said almost 6000 healthcare staff weren’t at work because they were in isolation. “It’s not taking the stress off our frontline staff. They’re all exhausted after the last two years,” Mr Hazzard told Nine. “It’s silly not to get vaccinated … It’s a very selfish position.“I get so frustrated on behalf of all the doctors, nurses, paramedics, cleaners, emergency staff … I just wish people would take the opportunity to go and get vaccinated.”
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