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Multiple jurisdictions have reintroduced pandemic restrictions, as experts warn it could still be several weeks until the peak of the Omicron wave.

Australia recorded another one-day high for daily infections, with state and territory leaders seeking to curb the spread of rising case numbers linked to the variant.

On Friday evening Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg tweeted that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was isolating with his family.

"My thoughts are with all those who have COVID - this is a difficult time but we will get through this," he said.

In NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet moved to suspend elective surgery in a bid to ease pressure on hospitals, while singing and dancing will be banned in hospitality venues.

Major events will be able to go ahead, but health officials will re-examine COVID safety plans in place and advise organisers if changes have to be made.

Health officials have said Omicron cases could peak in the state by the end of January.

Queensland has indicated it could follow suit on suspending elective surgery, as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged people to work from home if possible.

She also flagged the start to the school year could be postponed due to the rise in cases.

Victoria has already reintroduced density limits in hospitality venues, and the Northern Territory has introduced a territory-wide lockout for the unvaccinated.

States are also moving to record positive rapid antigen test results as part of daily case numbers, alongside PCR tests.

Victoria and now Tasmania have moved to a system where people who test positive on a rapid test can inform state health authorities.

Queensland is establishing a hotline to record positive rapid tests and NSW is also working to have a similar system in place.

The rise in cases has led to a boost in demand for rapid tests, which has caused widespread shortages and reports of price gouging at some retailers.

Large queues have been seen at PCR testing clinics across the country following the rapid test shortage.

It comes as daily cases across the country have more than doubled in just the past week.

There were 38,625 new cases and 11 deaths in NSW, while there were 21,728 infections and six fatalities in Victoria.

Queensland had 10,953, while South Australia and Tasmania registered 3707 and 1489 cases respectively.

The ACT had 1246 cases, the first time the territory had daily case numbers above 1000, with the Northern Territory having 412 and Western Australia recording six among travellers.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said health systems across the country had been struggling with the explosion of cases.

"The reality is our hospitals are under extraordinary pressure, and those long-suffering staff who have had a very difficult couple of years ... they're facing huge demand at the front door of the ED," Dr Khorshid told the Ten Network.

"It's just not true to say our health system is so resilient it can cope with anything. There are limits, unfortunately."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 200 rapid antigen tests would be available in coming weeks but ruled out making them universally free.

The government will instead provide 10 tests over a three-month period to more than six million concession cardholders.

There was another record day for booster doses, with 232,586 administered on Thursday.

The latest vaccination figures have shown almost 3.2 million people 16 and over in the county have received a third COVID vaccine dose.

The time frame between doses was shortened earlier this week from five to four months between the second and third dose.

That will shorten again to three months by the end of January.

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Novak Djokovic faces further sleepless nights in detention as the nine-time champion's Australian Open fate remains in legal limbo following the adjournment of his desperate court case against deportation.

The world No.1 is challenging the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa, applying for a judicial review, and attempting to stave off deportation in the meantime.

Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly on Thursday night said there was a delay in receiving the application for a review of the visa decisions and the temporary ban on Djokovic's deportation.

As such, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrew's lawyer agreed the tennis superstar should not be deported until Monday, with the case adjourned until then.

The judge however rejected calls by the tennis star's legal team to permit him to remain until the court case was over.

The nine-times Open champion remains locked in a quarantine hotel as he tries to keep alive his quest for a record 21st grand slam title at Melbourne Park later this month.

He was sent there after facing an eight-hour grilling from Australian Border Force officials following his arrival after a 14-hour flight from Dubai on Wednesday night.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic had tried to enter the country without a medical exemption from vaccination.

The Serbian claimed he had such an exemption, but it appears this was only granted for the tournament and not entry into Australia.

Morrison said entry to Australia required double vaccination or a medical exemption, which Djokovic did not have, and that "rules are rules".

"People must be fully vaccinated as defined by ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia," he said on Thursday.

"That means people who do not meet the definition will not be approved for quarantine-free entry.

"I am advised that such an exemption was not in place and as a result he is subject to the same rule as anyone else."

Following the border force decision, it emerged Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley was repeatedly warned that a recent COVID-19 infection wasn't grounds for a medical exemption for unvaccinated players.

It's been revealed that the Department of Health sent Tiley two letters in November stipulating that a COVID infection in the past six months would not satisfy entry requirements for unvaccinated players.

It's believed the world No.1 men's player applied for an exemption on those grounds.

Health Minister Greg Hunt reiterated advice in a letter in late November.

"I can confirm that people who have contracted COVID-19 within the past six months and seek to enter Australia from overseas, and have not received two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)- approved or TGA-recognised vaccine (or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine) are not considered fully vaccinated," Hunt wrote.

The move by the Australian government threatened to cause a diplomatic incident between Canberra and Belgrade.

"I told our Novak that the whole of Serbia is with him and that our bodies are doing everything to see that the harassment of the world's best tennis player is brought to an end immediately," Serbia president Aleksandar Vucic posted on Instagram.

"In line with all norms of international law, Serbia will fight for Novak, truth and justice."

TA faced public outrage over the tournament exemption.

Rod Laver urged Djokovic to tell the public his medical reasoning, fearing repercussions on the court named after him at Melbourne Park.

"I think it might get ugly ... if he's got a reason for (the exemption) then ... we should know it," Laver said.

The polarising Djokovic at least had one player in his corner in American Tennys Sandgren.

The two-time Open quarter-finalist and outspoken anti-vaxxer said the treatment of the world's top male player meant Australia didn't deserve to host a grand slam.

Sandgren didn't enter this year's tournament, saying he didn't meet grounds for an exemption.

"Just to be crystal clear here. 2 separate medical boards approved his exemption. And politicians are stopping it. Australia doesn't deserve to host a grand slam," Sandgren tweeted.

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Positive rapid COVID-19 tests will be counted as "probable" cases in Victoria and anyone who returns one will have to isolate for seven days and notify contacts.

The new category of positive cases will be introduced from Friday, imposing the same rights and obligations as anyone who tests positive with a PCR test.

The tweak to the rules comes as Victoria reported 21,997 new cases on Thursday, one-third of the 64,000 results recorded.

"In the eyes of the health department, you have COVID," acting chief health officer Ben Cowie said of those receiving a positive result from a rapid antigen test.

Probable cases must immediately isolate for seven days, notify their contacts and report to the health department over the phone, or with an online form expected to go live on Friday.

Professor Cowie said those people were being discouraged from confirming the result with a PCR test unless they have no symptoms and are not a contact of a positive case - those least likely to have COVID.

Health Minister Martin Foley said probable cases would receive the same clinical and financial support as PCR confirmed cases.

"The goal is to bring it as close to, if not exactly the same as, the supports that the PCR reporting system has and make sure that increasingly, the rapid antigen testing is the key part of our testing," he said.

Probable cases will be reported alongside the daily figures.

Restrictions are also being reintroduced in an effort to limit the spread.

Density limits of one person per two square metres will be brought in for indoor hospitality and entertainment venues from Friday. Cinemas and theatres, where people are seated and masked, will be exempt.

Mr Foley, meanwhile, distanced the state from the "messy" process around No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic's entry into the country for the Australian Open.

"The Commonwealth lets you into the country, Tennis Australia in partnership with the state lets you into the tournament," he said.

"Someone issued Novak Djokovic a visa. It wasn't the Victorian government."

Djokovic's visa was cancelled by the Australian government on Thursday morning before he was moved to a Melbourne quarantine facility.

He has since launched a federal court challenge of the decision and will not be deported until at least Monday, pending the outcome of a 10am hearing.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the saga was "shameful" and had done reputational damage to Melbourne.

"Surely the Victorian government liaised with Border Force before they sent an invitation to Novak Djokovic to come to the Australian Open," he said.

VICTORIA'S LATEST COVID-19 FIGURES:

* Active cases: 61,120

* Hospital cases: 631, up 40

* Hospital cases seven-day average: 537

* Active cases in ICU: 51

* Cleared cases in ICU: 49

* Cases on a ventilator: 22

© AAP 2022