The NSW government has announced the staggered return of non-urgent elective surgery after the state recorded 30 more COVID-19 deaths.
There are now 2,749 people with the virus in hospital which is a decrease from the number of admissions a week ago.
Of those people, 183 are in ICU and 70 require ventilation.
A total of 12,818 new cases were confirmed in the reporting period — 7,913 from positive rapid antigen tests and 4,905 from PCR swabs.
Of the 30 people who died, one was a man in his 30s who had received two vaccine doses and had no significant underlying health conditions.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said this demonstrated the importance of getting a booster shot immediately.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard this morning announced that the suspension on non-urgent elective surgery would end on February 7.
From this date, surgeries requiring an overnight stay will return to 75 per cent capacity in private hospitals and public hospitals will gradually build up to this level too.
Mr Hazzard said hospital admissions had not reached the government's worst-case scenario so there was now capacity to resume surgeries.
"As Health Minster, I'm sorry some people have had to have their surgery delayed but it was in your interests, it was in the interests of the entire community that we made sure we had the space in our hospitals," Mr Hazzard said.
He said regional hospitals were in a position to restart surgery on February 7 but it could take longer in metropolitan areas.
The ultimate decision about when to resume is up to individual hospital management and hinges on stable infection rates in the community.
"Each hospital will make the decision as to when they are ready, [and] if the numbers stay as they are, that will be in the very near future," Mr Hazzard said.
"Clearly our desire is to move as quickly as possible to bring back the full range of non-urgent elective surgery ... but that will depend entirely on keeping (case) numbers down and that depends on us all going to get a booster."
Private hospitals will retain some capacity to assist public hospitals by taking patients if necessary and will also continue to take public patients for non-urgent elective surgery to ensure equity of access.
With public schools across NSW welcoming students back for term one today, the Health Minister urged more parents to get their children vaccinated.
He said just under 40 per cent of five to 11 year olds had received a dose of a COVID vaccine.
"Can I just say to mums and dads, as we come back to school, it’s worthwhile making an appointment and getting your son and daughter vaccinated as quickly as possible."
