Sydneysiders are ignoring Covid concerns and flock to packed beaches, as NSW infection levels continue to climb towards new records.

NSW had 20,794 additional cases Monday. That’s more than 2,500 new infections in less than 24 hours. It was the state with the highest number of daily infections. Queensland, Victoria and ACT reported higher numbers.

In NSW, hospital admissions increased from 1,066 to 1,204. ICU patients saw an increase of 12 to 95.

However, the numbers didn’t deter thousands of Sydneysiders from ignoring their worries and heading to the beach Monday. Many made the best of their final day before returning to work Tuesday. 

The photos of beaches with a lot of people show that there is not much transmission of Covid in Australia. It’s clear from these pictures that the beach-goers seem to have been protected. 

You have a much lower chance of covid being caught if you’re talking to friends or outside. 

This is after data from government shows that patients in Victoria and NSW were admitted for various reasons.

Scott Morrison asked questions about the shock revelations and will now try to create a standard nationwide definition for Covid patients in hospitals.

What pandemic?: Sydneysiders flocked to the beach on a day NSW recorded 20,794 new cases, its third highest daily total (pictured, friends enjoying Bondi Beach on Monday)

Is there a pandemic?: Sydneysiders flocked to the beach on a day NSW recorded 20,794 new cases, its third highest daily total (pictured, friends enjoying Bondi Beach on Monday)

Both the sand and the surf were swarming with carefree beachgoers at Bondi on Monday, which was a public holiday

Bondi’s beach and surf were full of carefree tourists on Monday.

On Monday, New Year’s Day was declared public holiday in Sydney. Tourists and Sydneysiders flocked to Bondi for a vitamin D boost. There were similar scenes all along Sydney’s coastline from Palm Beach to Manly to Cronulla to the south.

Not everyone went to Bondi just for the sun and the sea.

Omicron cases are continuing to rise, so the beachside drive-through clinic testing clinic was busy. 

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have been basking under clear skies and temperatures in the mid to high 20s during the first three days of 2022, after heavy rainfall dampened the final weeks and months of 2021.

Queensland and Victoria both recorded Monday’s highest Covid daily cases of 8 577 and 4 249 respectively. 

The ACT’s record 514 count was also a new national capital record. 

The sunshine that was shining on Australia’s east side will last for much of the week. However, it will soon be replaced by thunder and rain at the middle of the week.

On Monday, all 40 Gold Coast beaches closed because of dangerous swells. Ex-tropical Cyclone Seth continued to bring strong winds and dangerous surf along parts of the coast. Despite being downgraded from a Category 1, 

Sydneysiders threw caution to the wind and spent the New Year's Day public holiday soaking up the sunshine at Bondi

Sydneysiders were a little more adventurous and took advantage of the New Year’s Day public holidays to soak up the sun at Bondi.

Bondi's grassy knoll was typically packed with sunbakers (pictured on Monday) as thousands made the most of the balmy temperatures

Bondi’s grassy hill was often crowded with sunbakers, as many made the most out of the warm temperatures. 

Bondi lifeguards were on high alert on Monday, just like NSW health officials as they try and keep on top of soaring Covid infections

Bondi’s lifeguards were at high alert Monday just as NSW health officials to combat the soaring Covid infected.

The Bondi drive-through Covid testing clinic (pictured) was also busy on Monday with a long queue of motorists just metres from the beach

On Monday, the Bondi Drive-Thru Covid Testing Clinic (pictured) had a long line of motorists only metres away from the beach.

Sydney has been basking under clear skies and temperatures in the mid to high 20s on the first three days of 2022 (pictured, Bondi on Monday)

Sydney enjoyed clear skies, temperatures in the 20s and 20s for the first three days 2022. (Photo: Bondi Monday).

The Prime Minister demanded that a common definition be established for Covid hospitalisations in Australia.

The virus is not affecting hundreds of people in NSW’s Covid hospitalisation count. Many are just being tested positive during routine check while they wait for their admissions. 

‘I make a point about hospitalization, and this will be one of the topics we have to discuss this week. I’m going down to Canberra today with the premiers to talk about this definition of hospitalisation,” Mr Morrison said to Nine’s Today.

‘There are people being counted being in hospital to receive Covid. They were not there for Covid. They were there because of some other reason, which is why they were admitted.

“So that we can track the important items we are tracking now, we will need a standard definition. Case numbers. I don’t mean the case numbers. There will come a day, which I believe shouldn’t too distant, when reporting case numbers won’t make sense. It is important to consider the effect on the hospital system.

After NSW government data showed that as high as 50% of the ‘Covid’ patients admitted to state hospitals one day, they were in fact being treated for other conditions such as broken legs, labor pains, or mental issues. They later proved positive to the virus at routine testing.

Scott Morrison (pictured on Monday) has called for a nationwide standard definition of Covid patients in hospital

Scott Morrison (photo taken Monday) called for an international standard definition of Covid patients at hospitals

NSW hospitalisations of Covid cases reached four digits for the first time since October (pictured, ICU staff at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital) - but it has emerged not all the patients are in hospital for Covid-related reasons

For the first time since October, the number of NSW Covid patients admitted to hospital in NSW reached four figures (photo: ICU staff at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital). However, it appears that not all Covid-related cases are being treated in the hospital.

Bondi Beach crowds spilled onto the grassed hill as Sydneysiders enjoyed beachside picnics or sunbathed

Bondi Beach residents flocked to the grassy hill for sunbathing or beachside picnics.

Many Sydneysiders headed to the beach before returning to work for the first time in 2022 on Tuesday after a string of public holidays

After a series of public holidays, many Sydneysiders went to the beaches before heading back to work on Tuesday 2022.

Brad Hazzard, the NSW Health Minister, admitted that more than half of these cases had been in hospital during the past week for a different reason. This raises questions regarding how figures on hospitalisation are presented.

According to Mr Hazzard, a reasonable percentage of Covid hospitalizations involve people who are admitted for other reasons.

“Heart attacks and births are all possible, but that doesn’t mean they can stop because of Covid. The patient arrives at the hospital and is given a swab to confirm that Covid has been confirmed. 

“This is a sign that we see the potential in our community. But, it doesn’t mean that this should be the sole reason behind all admissions.

Martin Foley, state health minister in Victoria said that similar data was being collected south of Victoria’s border to inform reporters.

Victoria recorded 23,000. In the three-day period starting in 2022, Victoria already had more than its annual record in 2020. 

Carefree Sydneysiders shrugging off concerns and hitting the beach on Monday from Palm Beach in the north and Cronulla in the south to Australia's most iconic beach at Bondi (pictured)

Sydneysiders are ignoring their worries and heading to the beach Mondays from Palm Beach (north) and Cronulla (south), in order to enjoy Bondi, Australia’s most famous beach.

Beachgoers were physically distanced across the shoreline at Australia's most iconic beach despite it looking packed from afar

The shoreline of Australia’s most famous beach was crowded from far away, but it felt physically distant to the people who were there.

The warm summer weather has seen thousands of people hit the beach over the Christmas break (pictured, Bondi on Monday)

Warm weather in summer has seen thousands flock to Bondi for Christmas.

Hospital admissions in NSW rose from 1,066 to 1,204 while ICU patients increased by 12 to 95 as carefree Sydneysiders flocked to the beach for some fresh ocean air and vitamin D (pictured, Bondi on Monday)

As carefree Sydneysiders flock to the beaches for fresh air and vitamin D, hospital admissions rose in NSW from 1,066 down to 1,204. ICU patients also increased 12 to 95.

SIX-DAY FORECAST IN YOUR CITY

 Sydney 

Tuesday, 26 and Sunny

Tuesday: 26 and Storms

Thursday, 26 and Storms

Friday 27 and Storms

Saturday: 28 and Rain

Sunday 25 and rain

Brisbane 

Tuesday 31 and Mostly Sunny

Tuesday: Rain and 28

Thursday 27 and Storms 

Friday 27 and Storms

Saturday, 28 and Showers

Sunday 29 and mostly sunny

Canberra  

Tuesday, 28 and rain

Wednesday, 27 and mostly sunny

Thursday, 24 and Storms

Friday 27 and Storms

Saturday, 28 and Storms

Sunday 27 and Storms

Darwin 

Tuesday, 32 and rain

Tuesday: Wednesday, 32 and Storms

Thursday, 30 and rain

Friday: Rain and 32

Saturday, 32 degrees and rain

Sunday: 32 and Rain 

Melbourne 

Tuesday, 24 and Mostly Sunny

Wednesday 24 and Storms

Thursday 27 and Storms

Friday, 26 and Storms

Saturday, 20 and rain

Sunday, 23 and Rain

Perth 

Tuesday: Sunny and 36

Wednesday: Sunny and 37

Wednesday: 33, Sunny

Friday: Sunny and 37

Saturday: Sunny and 33

Sunday 31 and Sunny 

Hobart  

Tuesday, 18 and mostly sunny

Wednesday 18 and Showers

Thursday, August 18 and Rain

Friday, 24 and Storms

Saturday, 18 and Showers

Sunday, 19 and mostly sunny