“The fact that our projections are tracking under the current curve, the fact that the numbers have stabilised, give us some hope,” Dr Chant said.“That is because all of the actions you have been taking as a community in terms of wearing those masks and taking the protective actions.” Another 36 people died from the virus in NSW in the past day and 29,830 tested positive. Of the new cases, 13,763 were positive on a rapid antigen test and 16,067 through a PCR. There are 2850 people battling Covid in hospital with 209 in intensive care.nsw health jan 18Dr Chant said while she felt it was “too soon” to declare NSW has passed the Omicron peak, she warned the move back to school would see “an uptick” in cases. “We will need to do many things that we are doing now to keep (case numbers) low,” she said. Dr Chant said authorities were working to sort through rapid antigen tests results and work out which were false reports. She added NSW would have to “recalibrate” its hospital system to prepare for the return of diseases like flu alongside Covid. “We’ve got the consider the flu and other viruses we’ve been free of for two years, 2022 is going to be a recalibration,” Dr Chant said.PREMIER DEFENDS TERM ONE STARTThe Premier defended the decision to allow term one of the school year to proceed as normal despite high Covid case numbers. “We are determined to make it as smooth as possible, that will mean at times, teachers who are positive self-isolate, it will mean at times at kids who are positive will need to isolate,” Dominic Perrottet said.“But that is a better issue to be dealing with than having our schools closed, we need kids back in the classrooms, it’s best for them.” He added a “comprehensive plan” to manage the Omicron strain “across the board” was being finalised by health and education officials, and more would follow after National Cabinet meets on Thursday. “We will release it after that but it will be different to last year,” he said.FOURTH VACCINE ROLLOUT IN THE WORKSThe rollout of a fourth Covid-19 vaccine booster in Australia is currently being planned pending health advice, with experts hopeful the jab will drop back to yearly like the flu shot. The federal government is planning the expansion of the rollout to ensure vaccines are ready should the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommend the extra dose, with those more at risk of serious disease expected to be eligible first. Already immunocompromised people are able to get a fourth vaccine in Australia, but globally Israel is the only country rolling out the extra booster more widely, giving it to everyone over the age of 60. University of Sydney infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy said he did not think people should “jump to conclusions” about needing a fourth dose, as Australia was still assessing data to determine how much protection the third dose gave people. “My hope is that it will go the way of the flu jab and be something you have once a year,” he said. Chief Medical Officer Prof Paul Kelly has confirmed ATAGI “will absolutely deliberate on fourth or subsequent doses” and advise government. Deakin University epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett said it was too early to know if healthy Australians would need a fourth booster vaccine. “Older people in our community who don’t come under immunocompromised but are still candidates for more severe illness or may in fact have waning immunity may need a fourth booster,” she said. “That’s what we’re watching in places like Israel, but it may not be necessary to keep boosting people.”Prof Bennett said the most important thing currently was to get people to have a third booster as it was shown to be more effective against Omicron.NED-5192-DT-App-Banner
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