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Australia's Covid-19 infections hover near record levels as a surge of infections caused by the Omicron variant puts a strain on hospitals already stretched by staff isolating after being exposed to the virus, Reuters reports.
Australia has reported about 1.1 million cases since the pandemic began, with more than half of those in the last two weeks, including nearly 86,000 cases in the last 24 hours, with two states due to report later.
"There is significant pressure in our health system," the premier of Victoria state, Daniel Andrews, told a media briefing, adding about 4,000 hospital and 400 ambulance staff in the state were isolating due to virus protocols.
