Australia has recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic, with 58 fatalities confirmed on Tuesday from two states alone as concerns increase about rapid test access.
NSW registered a one-day record of 36 deaths while Victoria reported 22 deaths, breaking the previous record of 57 fatalities from all states and territories.
The news of the country’s deadliest day comes to light as unions threaten strike action surrounding worker access to rapid antigen tests.
Following an emergency meeting of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, its secretary Sally McManus said safety protections for employees needed to be guaranteed during the Omicron variant.
“At the moment, unfortunately, we’re seeing some employers try to force COVID-positive people to go to work,” she told the ABC.
“That’s absolutely a red line, we must keep people safe during the pandemic, not just for them and their co-workers, about the whole community.”
The unions have called for rapid antigen tests to be made free for workers so as to ease pressure on local businesses.
However, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the strike threats from unions were stoking fear during the pandemic.
“It’s exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time for the economy and for people’s jobs – it’s putting workers last and not first and damaging job prospects,” Minister Frydenberg said.
“It’s not a choice between one person’s job and one person’s health – what we’re trying to do is to protect jobs and use the best medical advice to do so.”
As students get set to return to face-to-face classes, NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said free rapid tests would be rolled out to all schools across the state as part of COVID-safe plans.
Infectious diseases expert Sanjaya Senanayake from the Australian National University stated that the rapid tests would be crucial on whether or not students can return to the classroom.
“It has been quite successful, both in terms of compliance and minimising spread within the classroom (in other countries),” he stated.
“So if we’ve got enough rapid antigen tests, and the parents are on board, everyone’s on board, then it should work.”
Currently, NSW registered 29,830 new cases of COVID-19, with 13,763 coming from rapid tests and 16,067 from PCR tests.
Meanwhile, Victoria has reported 20,180 cases, with PCRs making up more than 8000 cases while more than 11,000 came from rapid tests.
More than one in four Australians over the age of 18 have had their booster shot and one-in-seven aged between five and 11 were jabbed in the first week of eligibility.
With AAP