SYDNEY – The Covid-19 pandemic in Australia has reached a new level, putting more strain on the healthcare system. On Wednesday, Australia reached the frightening milestone of 50,000 Covid infections in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began in early 2020, with New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, the two most populous states, accounting for the majority of new infections, as per  Xinhua report.

NSW, the epicentre of the current pandemic caused by the Omicron varient, saw 35,054 new cases and eight deaths in the 24 hours leading up to 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, while Victoria saw 17,636 new cases and 11 deaths in the 24 hours leading up to midnight Tuesday.

There were also higher hospitalizations in both jurisdictions, with 1,491 Covid patients in NSW and 591 in Victoria. Susan Pearce, NSW Health Deputy Secretary, cautioned that the healthcare system is under strain and that the situation could persist for some time.

"We expect that pressure to continue for the next several weeks," Pearce predicted. "We also think that if it starts to fall, it will likely decline quickly, but we still have a few difficult weeks ahead of us." People who are not compelled to get a PCR test should "not line up in that queue," according to NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. He explained, "Because we need folks who are sick or categorised as close contacts to be able to get tested."

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