NSW has recorded 12,818 new Covid cases as the state announced it would all reinstate all elective surgery from the start of next week.
The state also recorded 30 more Covid-related deaths – compared to 26 the day before – in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday night.
The new cases, which mark a 1.6 per cent decrease on Monday’s 13,026 infections, include 7,913 rapid antigen test results and 4,905 from PCR swabs.
There are 2,749 patients with the virus in NSW hospitals, down from 2,779 on Monday.
Premier Dominic Perrottet on Tuesday announced elective surgeries requiring an overnight stay will return to all of the state’s public and private hospitals from February 7.
Those surgeries were suspended on January 10 as the state battled against the latest wave of cases and the rising number of Covid patients in hospital.
NSW has recorded 12,818 new Covid cases – a 1.6 per cent decrease on Monday’s 13,026 infections. Pictured are pedestrians in Darling Harbour in the Sydney CBD in January
‘We thought that… we could bring that back in mid-February but we’ve been able to bring that forward and that’s incredibly important,’ he said on Tuesday.
‘I think (that) is a testament to the strength of our health system.’
Elective procedures will resume at 75 per cent capacity in private and public hospitals.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said rules could be eased as NSW’s Covid hospital admission rate was less than the government’s worst-case scenario.
‘I’m sorry some people have had to have their surgery delayed but it was in your interests,’ he said.
‘It was in the interests of the entire community that we made sure we had the space in our hospitals.’
Mr Perrottet also vowed to keep children in the classroom, but said ‘it won’t be all smooth sailing’.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in Sydney on Tuesday. He has reinstated elective surgery for all public and private hospitals across the state from February 7
Catholic school children returned to school on Monday but most state pupils started on Tuesday, testing the government’s new Covid-19 protocols for face-to-face teaching amid the Omicron outbreak.
About eight million rapid antigen tests have been distributed to schools to prepare for the school year.
Teachers and students are required to test for Covid-19 twice weekly, year groups will be segregated, ventilation has been improved, children have been getting vaccinated and high school students and teachers must wear masks.
More than 78 per cent of students aged 12-15 have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine while nearly 40 per cent of children aged 5-11 have had one dose.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced electives surgeries will resume from February 7 (file image)
Of the eligible population, 44.7 per cent of people in NSW have had a booster shot.
Unions say school cleaners have been excluded from the government’s Covid-safe plan.
The United Workers Union, The Parenthood and the NSW Teachers Federation are calling on the premier to include them in the testing regime.
Judith Barber, who cleans schools on the north coast, says cleaners stepped up at the beginning of Covid for additional cleaning to keep schools safe.
‘As essential workers we were required to be vaccinated to keep working in schools, but now we’re not seen to be important enough to be included in the rollout of RATs in schools,’ she said.
Mr Perrottet on Monday unveiled a new voucher scheme to help NSW parents with the cost of out-of-school care.
He said the scheme – which will give parents $500 vouchers to help with the cost of before and after school care – would help families ‘balance work and family life’.
The vouchers will be available from February 28 through the Service NSW app.
More to come
