Australia Covid live update: Victoria records 92 new cases as mystery infections grow; NSW relaxes restrictions as cases soar

The two people who died were a western Sydney woman in her 80s in Westmead Hospital and one in her 70s from the Blue Mountains at Nepean Hospital after acquiring her infection there earlier this month.

It’s the fourth death linked to an outbreak at the hospital.

The state’s health system continues to strain under the caseload created by the outbreak.

There are almost 800 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 125 people in intensive care and 52 ventilated.

At least two western Sydney hospitals – Westmead and Blacktown – have called “code yellows” this week as their caseload climbs.

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan on Saturday said there had been so many calls for ambulances in the past three days it was the equivalent demand on paramedics as the “busiest New Year’s Eve”.

On Friday alone, Mr Morgan said 450 patients required paramedic assistance for suspected or actual COVID-19.

“When we receive calls that do not require an ambulance immediately, it can have dire consequences,” he said, noting an instance of an ambulance taking 25 minutes to get to an 18-year-old suffering from cardiac arrest.

source: theguardian.com