Victoria has recorded 37,994 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths, as the virus continues to impact public services including ambulances.
The state's new infections include 18,503 from rapid antigen tests and 19,491 from PCR tests, the health department said on Tuesday.
There are 861 patients in hospital, 43 more than the previous day, including 117 in ICU and 27 on ventilation.
The state is managing 171,369 active cases.
The latest figures come as Victorian paramedics warn there will be delays in ambulances reaching people for the second time in a week.
Ambulance Victoria (AV) said it was experiencing "extremely high demand for ambulances" in metropolitan Melbourne.
"It is likely there will be a delay in an ambulance reaching you," it said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Our priority is to provide care to Victorians who require life-saving assistance."
AV asked Victorians to only use triple zero for emergencies and to contact Nurse On Call or visit their GP is their illness is not an emergency.
NSW mulls major rapid antigen test change as cases grow
New South Wales has reported 25,870 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths, as the state government mulls forcing residents to report positive at-home rapid test results.
The new cases reported on Tuesday were detected from just over 71,000 PCR laboratory tests.
But NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has warned current daily case numbers are conservative because rapid antigen test results are yet to be officially included.
The state will this week move into a dual reporting system for infections that includes positive, self-administered RAT results - reported through the ServiceNSW app - and the normal PCR results.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard told The Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday the government .
People queue for a COVID-19 PCR test at a doctors surgery in Sydney. Source: AAP
His department has sought advice from the Crown Solicitor's Office on how it can be legally enforced.
"The bottom line is it is a must-do, even if there is no fine," Mr Hazzard told the SMH.
"At the end of the day, it's an obligation on all of us to make sure that we log in to the Service NSW app, particularly as it will give a clear picture of how the virus is moving through the community.
"It comes with the added benefit that it might also open the door to federal financial assistance if you're off work for the week."
Tasmania records 1,379 new cases as hospitalisations dip
Tasmania has recorded 1,379 new COVID-19 cases, with the number of people being treated in hospital for virus symptoms dropping to seven.
The cases are made up of 1,015 self-reported positive rapid antigen tests and 364 PCR tests, taking the state's number of active infections to 8356.
The health department says seven people are being treated in hospital specifically for COVID-19, down from 11 reported on Monday.
Another 11 people with the virus are in hospital for unrelated medical conditions.
Fifty positive cases are staying in community management clinics, while 278 are being monitored under the COVID-at-home system.
Tasmania's Child Health and Parenting Service is reducing client service delivery until February 4 to allow nursing staff to focus on broader health system requirements.
"This will include the cancellation of most appointments for older children (six months and above) in order to allow prioritisation of service to younger infants and their families during this time," the health department says.
"The service will continue to offer the opportunity for new parents to participate in an online new parent group and focused breast feeding and perinatal mental health services as required.
"Service delivery will be available via either face-to-face or Telehealth options during this time as clinically appropriate."
Queensland attributes jump to testing delays
Tuesday's case numbers in Queensland have more than doubled from Monday's 9,581 to 20,566.
But Monday's case numbers were lower than expected as four private pathology labs were unable to report test results for Sunday.
The state has also recorded one additional death, a man in his late 70s who had "very significant" underlying medical problems.
Chief health officer John Gerrard said the number of ward patients was predicted to continue increasing until the second week of February.
"The disease we are seeing now is quite dramatically different from what we saw at the start of pandemic," he said on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, the ACT recorded 1,508 new cases and the death of a man in his 80s. The territory has 28 people in hospital, and four in ICU.
The Northern Territory has reported 594 new COVID-19 infections, with the Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison saying "32 patients in hospitals across the territory but only 11 of them are classified as acute admissions".
New app for WA
A person who was probably infected with the Omicron variant while in the community is among four new local COVID-19 cases in Western Australia.
The person, identified as Case 1244, had close contact with a confirmed Omicron case who recently returned from Tasmania.
They subsequently spent several days in the community in Perth.
Also on Tuesday, the state government launched its new ServiceWA app, integrating proof of vaccination records, the SafeWA QR system and the G2G travel pass.
It comes as the government prepares to ramp up restrictions for the unvaccinated ahead of the February 5 border reopening.
'Australian workers are not ok at the moment'
Unions are calling for an urgent meeting with the federal government to discuss the impact of the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on exhausted essential workers.
Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sally McManus wrote to Prime Minister Scott Morrison overnight with a list of demands warning an "unofficial lockdown" was hurting affected workers.
"The prime minister has not heard from working people and we are on the front lines," Ms McManus said in a statement on Tuesday.
"Australian workers are not ok at the moment.
"We have never had so many working people sick at once.
"Healthcare workers are exhausted, people are anxious and uncertain."
The demands include the restoration of pandemic leave for workers who are close contacts of infected colleagues, rather than just household contacts.
Unions also want free rapid antigen tests for all and for the tests to be prioritised for frontline workers until supply issues are resolved, and requirements for masks at work to be at N95 or P2 standard.
ACTU Secretary Sally McManus. Source: AAP
"Many are losing pay while sick as they have no sick leave," Ms McManus said.
"Others are losing hours and their jobs as businesses close or cut back in what is turning into an unofficial lockdown."
Scott Morrison calls for co-ordinated school reopening
Meanwhile, uncertainty remains on how students will be able to return safely to schools as COVID-19 cases soar.
The country's leading medical advisory panel met on Monday to discuss the start of the 2022 school year, ahead of a national cabinet meeting on Thursday.
NSW and Victoria have backed a federal government push for a coordinated approach, with the premiers of those states meeting virtually on Monday to discuss virus-related issues including in schools.
Queensland has postponed the start of its school year by two weeks, saying the delay was needed to allow more time for students to get vaccinated before classes resume.
South Australia officials have said rapid antigen tests would be needed to help teachers keep track of the virus.
The school year starts at the end of January, roughly at the same time cases of the Omicron variant are expected to peak.
, with an estimated 2.3 million children now eligible for their first dose.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said plans for the return to school would be worked through in talks this week.
"It's obviously a key issue for parents as they are thinking about their children going back to school in a few weeks' time," Mr Morrison said on Monday.
"We'll look to have those arrangements very clear by the time that occurs."
Mr Morrison reiterated his preference for students to be back in the classroom on the first day of term, rather than learning from home.
The country's chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly said health-based issues would be taken into account before a unified approach was decided.
"It's related to balancing the wider aspects and the importance of face-to-face learning in schools with the risk of COVID," he said.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said he wanted to see students back in the classroom and called for people to follow the health advice surrounding the return.
