NSW reports an EXTRAORDINARY 92,264 Covid cases as wave of RAT results is finally reported and Victoria records 37,169 infections By Eliza Mcphee For Daily Mail Australia Published: 22:02 GMT, 12 January 2022 | Updated: 22:04 GMT, 12 January 2022 Viewcomments New South Wales has recorded 92,264 new Covid-19 cases as rapid antigen tests are finally reported while Victoria's infections have climbed by 37,169. Out of NSW's latest infections, 61,387 have come from RATs while the rest have been from PCR swabs. NSW residents were on Wednesday told they must upload their positive Covid test results using the Service NSW app. New South Wales has recorded 92,264 new Covid-19 cases as rapid antigen tests are finally reported while Victoria's infections have climbed by 37,169 Huge fines of $1,000 were brought in those who don't report positive RAT results - despite Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello admitting it will be 'almost impossible' to enforce. 'It's almost going to be impossible in many ways to enforce,' he told Nine Network. 'But the majority of the states and territories in the country have gone down the path of issuing a fine or putting a fine in place - Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT - and some have chosen the other path of just saying please do it.' Close contacts of Covid-19 cases in NSW will also no longer have to isolate for seven days if they have left isolation after being diagnosed in the previous 28 days. Meanwhile, dozens of Australia's top academics, doctors and community leaders have called for schools to reopen in an open letter as Omicron cases continue to skyrocket. Thousands of students will return to the classroom in the coming weeks for the 2022 school year. NSW and Victorian residents are now required to report their positive rapid test results to alleviate pressure on PCR testing clinics (pictured in Melbourne) As Queensland delayed its start to term one by two weeks, a group of leading figures have written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory premiers, calling for them to reassure families that schools are safe to return to. The letter urges governments to follow the principle set by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Children's Fund that in a pandemic 'schools must be the last to close and the first to open'. The authors describe students as the forgotten voices of the pandemic after thousands had their education disrupted for months at the time during lockdown. Epidemiologists Catherine Bennett and Fiona Russell, former Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry and Professor of Child Health David Issacs are among the 35 academics, doctors and community leaders who have put their name to the open letter sent ahead of Thursday's national cabinet. 'In the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic we now have evidence that it is safe to allow schools to be open for face-to-face learning,' the letter begins. 'The national cabinet commitment to re-open schools is at risk, however, and needs to be reaffirmed by every jurisdiction, with measures taken to reassure Australian families that schools are safe to return.' 'Children are the 'lost voices' of this pandemic,' it states. More to come Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility