Australia’s daily Covid cases surge past 10,000 for 1st time

Australia reported more than 10,000 daily Covid-19 cases for the first time since the start of the pandemic amid the rapid spread of the Omicron strain.

New South Wales on Monday recorded 6,324 cases, with 55 in intensive care among 520 people in hospital. The most populous state also reported its first known death from the Omicron variant—a man in his 80s with underlying health issues who had received two doses of vaccine and became infected in his nursing home.

Everyone in the state is likely to get Omicron at some point, the state’s health minister Brad Hazzard said Sunday, according to a local report.

The second biggest state, Victoria, posted 1,999 daily cases. Infections also multiplied in smaller states that recently reopened domestic borders for the summer holiday tourism season: Queensland had 784 new cases on Monday, while South Australia counted 842.

There was one new case in Western Australia, the country’s last holdout of the Covid-zero approach. Its premier Mark Mcgowan extended restrictions introduced last week, such as masks at indoor public venues.

“We are not out of the woods yet,” Mcgowan told reporters Monday.

Most of Australia has shifted toward living with the virus, relying on vaccines and a growing arsenal of treatments. Recent studies have raised hopes that Omicron symptoms may be less severe compared with the Delta wave. Key developments:

New York State sets new record for Covid cases

NEW cases of coronavirus in New York State surged to an all-time high on December 24 before retreating on Christmas Day.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s office reported 49,708 new Covid-19 cases as the Omicron variant extend its spread worldwide. The number of new cases in New York slowed to 36,454 on December 25, probably because of the holiday.

Americans should stay vigilant against the Omicron variant despite evidence its symptoms may be less severe because the volume of cases can still overwhelm hospitals, President Biden’s top medical adviser said Sunday.

“When you have such a high volume of new infections it might override a real diminution in severity,“Anthony Fauci told ABC’S Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl on “This Week.”

South Africa Covid rates climb

THE number of people hospitalized for Covid in South Africa rose to 9,114 on Sunday, according to data from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. The daily positive rate also increased to 27.2 percent from 25.7 percent a day earlier.

The biggest share of new cases was recorded in coastal Western Cape province, at 28 percent, followed by Kwazulu Natal at 26 percent, both popular destinations for domestic tourists during the current summer holiday period.

More cases detected in China after large-scale tests

XI’AN reported 155 locally transmitted Covid-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of locally transmitted confirmed cases to 485 in the latest resurgence since December 9, Xinhua reported. Many infections previously not found in communities in the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province were detected during three rounds of large-scale testing. Infections may further emerge in the coming days.

S. Korea approves emergency use of Covid pill: Yonhap

SOUTH Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has decided to approve emergency use of Pfizer’s oral Covid-19 drug Paxlovid, Yonhap News said, citing the ministry.

Separately, South Korea reported 4,207 new cases Monday, the fewest since November 29, as the country imposed tighter rules on social-distancing and limited public activities of unvaccinated people. The number of severe cases was at 1,078, little changed from the average the past week.

Singapore adjusts vaccination approach

FROM February 1, applicants who wish to work on a long-term basis or permanently live in the citystate, as well as those looking to renew existing employment visas, will have to be inoculated against Covid-19, the health ministry said.

This latest move adds to measures in recent months to put pressure on those who have opted not to get jabbed—they’re already barred from most public spaces including restaurants, attractions and malls, and required to foot their own medical bills. Authorities are expecting more Omicron infections than for Delta, and a “rapid doubling of cases” in coming days and weeks.

Thailand’s daily Covid cases drop

THAILAND reported 2,437 new Covid-19 cases, the lowest daily tally since June 16, as the Southeast Asian nation ramps up vaccination efforts. The country also reported 18 Covid deaths on Monday, the least since June 14.

Germany hits interim vaccination target

GERMANY has reached a target of administering 30 million Covid-19 vaccines between mid November and the end of the year as it tries to ward off the fastspreading Omicron strain, said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

“We’re now going into the second round,” Lauterbach, who wants 30 million booster shots to be given in January, told news agency DPA. “It’s our goal to continue the booster campaign over the next few weeks at such a high speed that we can significantly reduce the number of hospital admissions due to the Omicron variant.”

Indonesia’s new infections at 21-month low

SOUTHEAST Asia’s biggest economy added 92 new Covid cases Sunday, the fewest since March 23, 2020, taking the total to more than 4.26 million, according to the Health Ministry. As many as 110.6 million people, or 53 percent of the targeted population, have received two doses of vaccines.

The country has tightened its borders, especially land and sea, due to rise in positive rate triggered by the emergence of the Omicron variant.