NSW reports 82,000 COVID-19 cases as rapid test reporting system goes live

New South Wales has reported 82,000 additional COVID-19 infections.

The staggering increase in cases came after people rushed to register their positive rapid antigen test results on the state government’s new reporting system.

Watch state government minister Victor Dominello speak about the surge above

The system, which went live via the Service NSW app on Wednesday, allows people to notify the government if their rapid test comes back positive.

Previously, only infections confirmed by a PCR swab taken at a testing site or at a healthcare provider such as hospital or GP were added to official figures.

Infected people must register their positive rapid test result via the Service NSW app. Credit: Sunrise

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello told Sunrise the explosion in cases is due to many of the infections dating back to January 1.

“As of this morning, it’s 82,000 over 12 days,” he said on Thursday.

“This is not just people putting in their data from yesterday, it’s people having rapid antigen tests on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th of January and we’re putting all that data together.”

Mr Dominello said the primary goal of the new reporting system was to connect positive people with advice and medical assistance if required.

“Over 99 per cent of people who get COVID will have mild symptoms and can be treated at home, but there will be that one per cent or less who will require additional healthcare.

“What we want to do is make sure we identify and give healthcare to those most in in need.”

NSW has made it mandatory for people who test positive on a RAT to notify the government. Credit: Getty Images

The government has made it mandatory for anyone who tests positive on a rapid test to report it via the new system or risk a $1,000 fine.

But Mr Dominello told the Channel Seven breakfast show this would be very hard to enforce.

“I accept it’s going to be almost impossible to police,” he admitted.

“The reality is, it’s primarily a signal to say that we take this seriously.

“We really want people to register their rapid test so that way they can access healthcare faster if it’s required.”

The 82,000 figure only includes rapid test results and not PCR swabs, with those numbers to be revealed by NSW Health later at 9am.

NSW reports 82,000 COVID-19 cases as rapid test reporting system goes live
Independent Information