One person also died from the virus in the past 24 hours.However, hospitalisations and ICU cases remain relatively low, with 206 people in hospital with the virus, including 26 patients in intensive care.Saturday’s case numbers are a jump from the previous NSW record of 2213 on Friday.Meanwhile some hospitals fear the numbers of this new outbreak could overload emergency and intensive care departments.Already, staff have been asked to postpone much-needed holidays, while NSW Health has elevated the situation at hospitals to Code Red and restricted visitors.latest Covid figuresSANTA, PLEASE BRING ME A R.A.TA rapid antigen test for Covid is the “best present you can give” for anyone worried about celebrating Christmas with elderly family members.Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the quick and cheap tests, which are available at supermarkets and pharmacies, could help to protect vulnerable relatives at a gathering.“Forget the ham – a RAT test is the best Christmas present you can give your family,” he said.“RAT tests should be walking out of the supermarket aisles.“Of course, if you develop symptoms, then go get a more precise PCR test and isolate.“And if you do have symptoms, you shouldn’t be going to any gatherings. The last thing anyone wants is Omicron as their Christmas present.”Covid clinics have been swamped by people seeking a PCR test, with some queuing for more than an hour. While the state government has wound back mandatory mask-wearing, many businesses were yesterday urging customers to wear them.NED-4835-rapid-Covid-testThe concern about case numbers has also led to Christmas parties being cancelled.Pub baron Craig Laundy told The Saturday Telegraph that about 20 per cent of bookings for Friday and Saturday at the bigger venues had been cancelled. The decision by the government to ease restrictions at the same time as case numbers were exploding – especially in Newcastle – prompted 2GB host Ray Hadley to blast Premier Dominic Perrottet, who Hadley said had signed his “political death warrant”.Breaking from his holidays in Queensland to call in to fill-in morning host Mark Levy, Hadley said the decision by Mr Perrottet to wind back mandatory mask-wearing and QR check-in codes was “utterly inexplicable”.NED-1397-do-you-have-coronavirus“He’s a great man with a big brain, but his brains are in his butt right now … he’s being very obstinate, very stubborn and very stupid,” Hadley said. The spray followed Levy reading out a text from Hadley to the Premier on air, which had accused Mr Perrottet of being “pig-headed” and “ruining” Christmas by easing restrictions too soon.A responding text from Mr Perrottet read out on air by Hadley said the Premier was happy to disagree with the 2GB host, that his job was to do his best for the community and he wasn’t concerned with being re-elected. Daily Telegraph – News Feed latest episodeDespite the spray, both the NSW and Victorian governments further eased restrictions yesterday, scrapping a requirement for international travellers and aircrew arriving in Sydney and Melbourne to isolate for 72 hours.Mr Perrottet said the removal of the isolation requirement would make the process easier for international travellers and help keep flight crew in the air.“We know it has been a challenging time for international travel … this announcement is about simplifying the process and making sure Australia’s two biggest cities have a consistent approach,” he said.Got a news tip? Email weekendtele@news.com.auNED-5192-DT-App-Banner
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