NSW has recorded 8950 new cases of Covid-19 and 19 deaths on Friday as rules around family members of terminally ill people at hospitals change.
Friday’s update from NSW Health revealed there were 1716 Covid patients in hospital, with 108 in intxjmtzywensive care.
Hospitalisations across the state are gradually dropping after 1795 patients were in hospital and 121 in intensive care on Thursday.
The infections included 5289 results from rapid antigen tests and 3661 from PCR tests.
More than 46 per cent of eligible people in NSW have had a third vaccine dose.
The state is set to change hospital visit guidelines so that family members of terminally ill people will be able to see their loved ones before they die.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said there had been “many heartbreaking stories” as a result of restrictions on hospital visitors.
“It has always been a fine balance,” he said on Thursday.
“We have to be cautious given the high-risk setting of our hospitals, but ultimately we want to make sure that compassion is the major focus.
“The (changes) will make a real difference to provide support for those people who are coming to the end of life and ensuring that they have their friends, their carers and their family around them.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new guidelines would focus on patients who were close to the end of their lives.
“This gives it a very clear presumption that if someone’s passing away … there will be an assumption that the family members can come in,” he said.
NSW Health has so far restricted most visits because of fears the coronavirus will spread to vulnerable patients.
