SYDNEY (Reuters – Australia experienced another increase in COVID-19 infection on Tuesday. The highly infectious Omicron variant caused a disruption to a staged reopening. Meanwhile, state leaders fought over border controls.

New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, and Queensland were the most populous state, reporting just over 10,000 new cases the previous morning. This puts Australia on pace to exceed the 10,186 record-breaking number of cases the previous day.

Although five deaths from COVID-19 were reported, the authorities were unable to specify if they were linked with the Omicron version.

Five other territories and states in the country have reported similar outbreaks, but no figures were available.

Omicron is a variant of Omicron that medical professionals say is more transmissible but less virulent. It began spreading quickly in Australia right as Australia was reopening after two years’ stop-start lockdowns.

The country’s leaders are restoring some containment measures such as compulsory mask-wearing at public events and QR codes check-ins.

The increasing caseload has forced thousands of hospitality, entertainment, and airline workers to self-isolate. These sectors are the most severely affected. There have been cancellations of shows, closures of restaurants, and delays in flights.

As some countries resist the call to eliminate internal border control, this new epidemic has also led to an increase in domestic fractiousness.

NSW is home to Sydney, a third Australia’s population. It has called upon Queensland, its neighbour, to change from mandatory clinical testing towards on-the spot rapid antigen testing. This follows complaints about long wait times and hours.

Brad Hazzard from NSW was the NSW Health Minister. He stated that 25% of all PCR tests in his state were “tourism tests”. This caused enormous pressure for the health system. There are long wait times and extraordinary queues to get results.

One case involved a Sydney testing facility that sent false negative results to 1,400 individuals. Hazzard stated that the bungle resulted from “human error”, and people who are subject to presure are more likely to make mistakes.

Queensland had promised to revise its border testing laws starting January 1, but Hazzard insisted that Queensland drop this rule as soon as possible.

Yvette Dath, Queensland’s Health Minister did not reply to Hazzards remarks about border testing during a press conference. However she said that the state will remove an additional testing rule for interstate visitors: those arriving into the state won’t have to undergo a virus test within five days of arriving.

Australia’s border with Australia remains open, however Australians can return to their homes without being subject to mandatory quarantine. Australia has also indicated that they will permit certain foreign workers and students to enter.