COVID-19 cases have spiked dramatically in NSW, with 30,402 new infections recorded, but authorities say it's due to a data glitch.
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NSW Health says about 10,000 positive rapid antigen tests registered between Sunday and Monday are included in figures released on Wednesday, due to a data processing problem.
"These positive RATs from Sunday and Monday artificially inflate the cases being reported today for the 24 hours to 4pm Tuesday," NSW Health said.
It comes a day after NSW reported 10,689 cases, up by more than 1700 from the previous day.
Labor's health spokesman Ryan Park says the glitch is a cause for concern and health officials have a duty to provide consistent, accurate, clear advice during a pandemic.
"We've got to get on top of the datam" he said.
"We've got to make sure it is accurate ... so that our community can be best informed and best supported to go and do what they need to do."
It comes as Health Minister Brad Hazzard said more than 2000 staff from NSW Health had been forced into isolation with COVID-19.
"The latest figures are showing an increase in furloughed staff," he told reporters.
The health system was under pressure but was coping "extraordinarily well" compared with the rest of the world, he said.
"We managed to get down to about 1000 staff furloughed about a month ago, but the latest numbers I've seen this morning indicate that is now up over 2000."
Mr Hazzard warned on Tuesday the same researchers who correctly predicted the Omicron summer surge have forecast another wave of cases that will peak next month.
Acting Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale said within weeks the new Omicron sub-variant BA2 will be "by far the dominant strain in NSW".
Former Australian Medical Association boss Tony Bartone is also warning about a winter surge of cases, saying BA2 and the cold season posed a new threat as people spent more time indoors together.
"The BA2 'son of Omicron' variant seems to be much more easily spread in family situations. Especially when children are largely unvaccinated," he told the Nine Network.
He urged parents to get their children vaccinated and eligible Australians to get a booster shot.
"We saw in January how quickly things can change," Dr Bartone said.
"Be wary, be vigilant. Don't forget the lessons of the past."
Meanwhile, the state is just four deaths away from recording 2000 fatalities for the entire pandemic.
Five people died on Tuesday and 1016 people are in hospital, with 36 in intensive care and 15 on ventilation.
Australian Associated Press
