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The National cabinet has agreed to provide free rapid antigen tests to more than six million Australians who are concessional card holders, with Scott Morrison ruling out making them free for everyone.

The tests will be available through pharmacies within the next two weeks.

Following the meeting the prime minister told reporters in Canberra 200 million rapid tests would be coming to Australia over the next two months.

Following widespread shortages of the rapid tests and large queues at PCR testing clinics across the country, the prime minister announced changes to testing requirements to alleviate pressure on the system.

People who return a positive COVID result from a rapid antigen test no longer need to have their infection confirmed with a PCR test.

Testing sites will also begin administering rapid tests to help ease the pressure on pathology labs.

Mr Morrison said universal access to free rapid tests was not agreed to by any state or territory leaders or the federal government.

"The cost for those tests being provided concessionally will be met 50-50 by the states and territories and the Commonwealth," he said.

However, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has called on the government to make the tests free for everyone, labelling the Commonwealth's plan as a failure.

"It's very clear the simplest way to do it is to make tests free and make them available," he told reporters in Sydney.

"People are crying out for action, the economic consequences of this government's failure to put in place a proper system are there for all to see."

Mr Albanese had previously called for the rapid tests to be made affordable but has since changed to wanting tests to be free.

"We've considered the options and the clear and simplest, most cost-efficient way is to make tests available," he said.

Rapid tests have been made free in countries such as the US, UK and Singapore.

The Public Health Association of Australia and Australian Medical Association have also added their voices to the chorus for free rapid tests.

Mr Morrison said Omicron had caused a major disruption in Australia, and that making the rapid tests free for all would not immediately solve issues.

"There's no silver bullet, making everything free is not a silver bullet," he said.

"You've just got to work the problem, work it together and push through, and that's what we'll be doing at national cabinet."

National cabinet was also due to consider whether to change the criteria for who is included in hospitalisation figures.

The discussion comes after it was revealed earlier in the week that some people were being admitted to hospital for non-virus related health issues before later testing positive.

On Tuesday, there were 176,223 boosters administered across the country, the highest daily number for the third doses.

More than 64,000 COVID cases were reported nationally on Wednesday, the highest daily number since the pandemic began.

NSW registered a high of 35,054 cases and eight deaths, while there 17,636 cases and another 11 deaths in Victoria.

Tasmania had a record of 867 infections, with Queensland reaching 6781, SA with 3493, the ACT with 810, NT 117 and WA 16.

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NSW will roll out Pfizer-produced COVID-19 vaccinations for children between five and 11 years from next week.

The vaccine is a special formulation and will be delivered in doses small enough to generate an immune response that's as strong as a full adult dose.

The children will be given two doses eight weeks apart with the aim of preventing them from developing severe illness or transmitting the virus to another person.

"We know it's safe," NSW Chief Paediatrician Matthew O'Meara said on Wednesday.

"It's been tested in thousands of children in clinical trials and millions of doses of first and second doses have been given in other countries."

Dr O'Meara said any side effects were minor.

"Many kids complain about a bit of a sore arm for a day or two afterwards," he said.

"But the headache, muscle ache, fever, chills and nausea ... is pretty uncommon in children and can be managed with the usual pain-relieving medications."

Dr O'Meara acknowledged parents may be weighing up the risks and benefits of giving a young child a vaccine but stressed COVID-19 was usually mild in children.

"In fact, many children will have no symptoms at all and a large number will have mild symptoms of a cough, cold, runny nose and fever that lasts up to five days."

But some children can become seriously ill and require hospitalisation if they aren't vaccinated. About one or two in every 100 would need to go to hospital and one in 1000 would end up in intensive care.

"We expect those numbers to be lower with the Omicron strain but it's still not an entirely benign disease," Dr O'Meara said.

Premier Dominic Premier says the rollout will ensure schools open on time for the first day of the new term in 2022.

"We want a seamless transition back into the school year," he added.

Currently, vaccinations are offered to children aged 12 to 15 and so far 81.4 per cent have had their first dose and 78 per cent have had two.

In the 16 years and older cohort - which includes adults - 95 per cent have had one dose and 93.6 per cent have had two.

NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce said the vaccine take-up in the 12-15 years group had been "really rapid" and she'd like to see the same again in the five- to 11-year-old cohort.

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Tasmania has recorded 867 new COVID-19 infections, another new daily record for the island state which now has 3118 active cases.

Of the fresh cases reported on Wednesday, 333 are being managed at home and 72 at a community facility.

The active cases have come from 2412 tests.

Five people with coronavirus are in hospital for unrelated medical conditions.

Tasmania's previous daily high was 702 cases reported on Tuesday.

It comes as the state government launches a testing blitz on remote King Island due to concerns a positive case visited several large events before knowing they were infectious.

The state's health department has urged anyone on the island with symptoms, regardless of how severe, to isolate and get tested as soon as possible.

King Island, which sits in Bass Strait off Tasmania's northwest coast, has a population of about 1700 people.

A testing team will arrive on Wednesday to help conduct PCR tests.

"There is concern that a case attended several large private and community events late last week and over the weekend before they knew they were infectious," State Public Health Director Mark Veitch said.

"Testing has been occurring over the past few days, but this is being increased to ensure that anyone on King Island who needs a test can get one as quickly as possible.

"If you have symptoms, do not go to work or visit other people."

The positive case on King Island was confirmed several days ago.

Meanwhile, sixty passengers and 30 crew aboard the Coral Discoverer cruise ship berthed in Hobart have been ordered into seven-day quarantine.

They were deemed close contacts of two COVID-positive people who were removed from the vessel on Monday.

Forty staff from the Royal Hobart Hospital have been furloughed, with Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff declaring Tasmania can expect to hit 2000 daily cases within weeks.

The state had no cases when it opened to mainland high-risk areas on December 15.

© AAP 2022