There has been a massive jump in the number of local COVID cases, with 80 detected in the Bega Valley and 33 in the Eurobodalla in the 24 hours to 8pm Tuesday night.
They are among 345 in the Southern NSW Local Health District, which has 1445 active cases.
However only two COVID patients are being treated in the district’s hospitals.
Across the state there were 35,054 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 306,984.
NSW Health is reporting the deaths of eight people with COVID-19 – six men and two women.
One person was in their 90s, two people were in their 80s, two people were in their 70s, two people were in their 60s, and one person was in their 50s.
Five people had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, two people were not vaccinated, and one person had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The daily figures show more than a third of people being tested for COVID in New South Wales are receiving positive results, as infections continue to break records.
Premier Dominic Perrottet has moved to reassure people worried about the surging numbers:
“I appreciate and understand that many people across NSW are feeling anxious and concerned, but we will get through,” he said.
“We’ve got through the last two years, and we’ll get through this difficult time as well.
“Every challenge that’s come our way, our state has stood tall,” Mr Perrottet said.
However the surging case numbers have put huge pressure on the health system, as about 3000 health workers are sidelined due to either having the virus or being exposed to it.
New South Wales Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce said they had been preparing for a situation like this for two years, despite the perfect storm caused by staff taking leave over Christmas and many health services winding back.
