Australia has seen a big rise in coronavirus cases over the New Year, driven by the Omicron variant.

The latest surge comes after Australia began reopening its borders late last year, with returning citizens no longer needing to quarantine on arrival. Entry rules have also been eased for international visa holders, including those from Japan.

The country reported a daily record of more than 60,000 new cases on Wednesday. The two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, accounted for the majority.

Case numbers in New South Wales, where Sydney is located, rose over a hundred times from a month ago.

The surge has put the health system under great pressure. Increased demand for testing is causing delays at clinics, with many people being turned away.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a National Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The government discussed plans to ensure adequate testing kits for the public to take pressure off the health system.