Tens of thousands of people in NSW are facing Christmas in isolation as the Omicron COVID-19 variant continues to run rampant through the state.
Some 15,815 people have tested positive since 16 December, with Wednesday's record daily caseload of 3,763 set to be smashed on Thursday.
Under current rules, people with COVID-19 must self-isolate at home until medically cleared, even if fully vaccinated.
"If you are self-managing you are able to leave self-isolation 10 days after your positive test, as long as you have had no symptoms for 72 hours - you will receive an SMS with this information," NSW Health said.
Broadcaster Michael Turner, who is fully vaccinated, tested positive on Wednesday after "nothing short of the worst" symptoms he's had with any illness over the prior two days.
More than 20,000 positive cases in Australia will likely spend Christmas in isolation. Source: AAP
"It's heartbreaking to be spending Christmas and New Year away from my family and potentially in hospital," he told said.
"While things may be opening up, and we are vaccinated, it can still hit you hard and the symptoms for those who get the full blast are certainly not just a simple cold/flu."
Others forced to cancel Christmas Day plans due to being positive or a close contact took to social media.
"I am COVID positive and get to have Christmas sick and isolated. I am double-vaxxed, I wore a mask, I sanitised and checked-in where available - I am devastated," Twitter user Debbie Stracey said.
"With COVID numbers plus partially positive RAT (rapid antigen test) plus close contact with many people, I've had to cancel the trip that my mum and sister had organised to come down," video gaming manager Nate Bramley said.
One in five cases uncovered in the past week has been in Newcastle or neighbouring Lake Macquarie, while the City of Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown have experienced faster spikes in recent days.
Despite the upwards trend, NSW will continue to mandate masks and QR code check-ins only in high-risk settings after national cabinet failed to agree on a mask mandate.
"Mask wearing in indoor spaces in public areas is of course highly recommended," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
"Whether it's mandated or not, that's what we should be doing."
After NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Tuesday blamed "tourism testing" for long queues at testing sites, national cabinet has asked a medical expert panel for advice on whether negative tests should continue to be required for interstate travel.
The state opposition is calling for rapid antigen tests to be made free to ease some of the pressure on PCR sites.
NSW's double-dose vaccination rate sits at 92.61 per cent of people aged 12 and over.
The COVID-19 patients in intensive care continued to be mostly unvaccinated, Deputy Chief Health Officer Jeremy McAnulty said on Wednesday.
