As we get used to an often-costly Covid testing regime, a light glimmers at the end of the RAT tunnel.

According to information from the Australia Tax Office (ATO), RATs could become a tax deductible item for Australians – but not quite yet – so keep hold of your purchase receipts for your costly RATs.

New case numbers

Today, 27 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the Lismore Local Government Area. The Lismore cases add to the new cases total of 246 in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) LGAs.

As has been the pattern for while, Tweed tops the list with the highest number of new cases – today recording 75 cases.

The Clarence Valley follows with 53, then Ballina with 37, Byron with 28, Lismore with 27 and Kyogle with 4.

The new cases were confirmed in 46 positive PCR tests and 200 positive rapid antigen tests (RAT).

There are 43 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with 3 of these in ICU.

Tax deductible RATs?

The ATO reports that the government announced on February 7 this year that they will “ensure COVID-19 testing expenses are tax deductible for testing taken to attend

a place of work”.

“This will also mean fringe benefits tax will not be incurred by employers if they provide COVID-19 tests to their employees for this purpose,” the ATO website states.

“This measure is not yet law. As is the normal practice, we will provide more detailed advice and guidance once the measure is enacted.

“In the interim, if you have incurred expenses for COVID-19 tests, you should keep a record of those expenses.”

NSW Covid statistics

Across NSW, there were 6,184 positive test results (cases) notified in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday – including 4,040 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 2,144 positive PCR tests.

There has now been a total of 322,610 positive RATs recorded since reporting began on 13 January 2022. The 2,144 positive PCR results were returned from 24,034 PCR tests.

There were 6,184 positive test results (cases) notified in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday – including 4,040 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 2,144 positive PCR tests.

Deaths

Sadly, NSW Health is reporting the deaths of 14 people with COVID-19; nine men and five women.

One person was in their 60s, four people were in their 70s, four people were in their 80s, and five people were in their 90s.

Older age is a significant risk factor for serious illness and death for COVID-19, particularly when combined with significant underlying health conditions.

Four people had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, six people had received two doses, and four people were not vaccinated.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 1,729.

 Hospitalisations

There are currently 1,649 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, including 100 people in intensive care, 47 of whom require ventilation.

Get tested

NNSWLHD is urging people to get tested for COVID-19 at the first sign of symptoms and isolate until a negative result is received.

Anyone who tests positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is required to register their result with Service NSW.

Registering your RAT result enables NSW Health to provide advice on self-isolation and managing COVID-19 symptoms at home and connect high risk people to clinical care services.

Boosters

Everyone who is eligible for a booster is encouraged to book without delay through the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder.

Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are now available for people aged 16 and over who had their second dose at least three months ago. We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect themselves, their loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19.

We also strongly recommend that people aged 12 years and over who are severely immunocompromised have a third primary dose of vaccine from two months after their second dose.

NSW Health vaccination clinics are now administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children aged five to 11 years old. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to make a booking for vaccination at any NSW Health vaccination clinic, at a general practitioner, or a community pharmacy.

Case data by postcode is also available on the NSW Government website.

For the most up to date COVID-19 information visit nsw.gov.au.