COVID-19 cases have spiked dramatically in NSW with 30,402 new infections recorded, but NSW Health stated that this was caused by a data glitch. 

Authorities at the NSW Health said that about 10,000 positive rapid antigen tests that were registered between Sunday and Monday were included in released figures due to a data processing problem. 

“These positive RATs from Sunday and Monday artificially inflate the cases being reported today for the 24 hours to 4 pm Tuesday,” representatives at the NSW Health said. 

This announcement came a day after NSW reported 10,689 cases of the virus, up by more than 1700 compared to the previous day.  

Five people died from the virus on Tuesday and 1016 people are in hospital, 36 of them in intensive care. 

Health authorities are warning citizens of NSW to brace for a new wave of COVID-19, with cases likely to double by the middle of next month. 

Health Minister Brad Hazzard stated that the same researchers who correctly predicted the Omicron summer surge have forecasted another wave of cases that will peak in the next month. 

Meanwhile, Acting Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale revealed that the new Omicron sub-variant BA2 will be “by far the dominant strain in NSW” within the next few weeks. 

Former Australian Medical Association boss Tony Bartone is also warning about a winter surge of cases, saying BA2 and the cold season posed a new threat as people spent more time indoors together. 

“The BA2 ‘son of Omicron’ variant seems to be much more easily spread in family situations. Especially when children are largely unvaccinated,” he told the Nine Network. 

Because of this, parents are urged to get their children vaccinated and eligible Australians to get a booster shot. 

“We saw in January how quickly things can change,” Mr Bartone said.  

“Be wary, be vigilant. Don’t forget the lessons of the past.” 

With AAP

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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