Channel 9 becomes latest media outlet to report false claims about NSW's COVID-19 hospitalisations

The state reported more than 18,000 cases overnight - down from yesterday's record.

Channel 9 has become the latest media outlet to report false claims about the COVID-19 hospitalisation numbers in NSW, as the Omicron variant spreads around the state.

"Hospitalisations in NSW have for the first time surpassed the 1000 mark," Nine News Sydney tweeted to its more than 160K followers.

A clip from Weekend Today claiming the same was added to the tweet.

But the claim? It's not true.

According to information from COVIDLive.com.au, the highest number of people hospitalised in NSW was on September 21.

1,268 people were in hospital at the time, with 242 in ICU & 118 on ventilators.

In fact, multiple days in September 2021 saw hospitalisation numbers over 1,000.

But it's not the first time a major news outlet has falsely reported record-breaking hospitalisations in NSW.

As 6 News reported just days ago, an article from Bloomberg claimed that hospitalisations due to COVID-19 in NSW "hit a new record."

That was false, and Bloomberg later corrected the article.

NSW reported another big jump in COVID-19 cases overnight, with 18,278 new cases out of just over 90,000 tests.

1,066 people are in hospital, 83 in ICU, while there were also 2 deaths.

93.6% of people aged over 16 in the state are fully vaccinated.

It’s down from the 22,577 cases announced yesterday - which was a record for any state & territory in Australia since the pandemic began.

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