the Number of new infections with the coronavirus is in Australian state of New South Wales has risen above 3000 in one day for the first time. The state reported 3,057 new cases and two fatalities on Tuesday. 284 people were treated in hospitals, up from 261 the previous day. The number of intensive care patients rose from 33 to 39.
As the numbers rise in the country’s most populous state, pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to speed up booster vaccinations. The head of government convened his cabinet, the prime ministers of the states and the chief ministers of the territories for an informal meeting on Wednesday. State prime ministers likely wanted to urge Morrison to cut the interval between a second dose and a booster dose from six to four months.
While masks are required in bars, restaurants and other public buildings in some Australian states, New South Wales is opposed to a return to the mask requirement. Even with the Omikron variant, Morrison fears no mask requirement. He said Australia needs to learn to deal with the virus. “The time of the hard hand is behind us,” said Morrison. It is time to trust the Australians, who after all had one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.