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NSW has welcomed 2022 after spending close to a third of the previous year under coronavirus-induced lockdowns, but despite case numbers surging the third year of COVID-19's presence in the state looks set to be different.

The state closed the year recording more infections in one week than it did throughout Delta-induced lockdowns.

That outbreak began with an infected limousine driver on June 16, leading to lockdowns that eventually covered the whole state and ended as restrictions began easing for fully vaccinated residents on October 11.

During that period the state recorded 63,338 cases.

In the final week of 2021, with the more transmissible Omicron variant rampant, pathology labs pushed to their limit and most restrictions ended, the state recorded 75,258 cases, including 21,151 on December 31, when it also recorded six deaths.

Some of the differences between the two outbreaks include the new variant, 93.5 per cent of the state having received two doses of a vaccine, and a new premier in charge of the government's response.

With vaccination rates high, Premier Dominic Perrottet has focused attention on the number of people in hospital and intensive care units, rather than the number of daily cases.

On the final day of 2021 there were 832 people with the virus in hospital, 69 of them in intensive care.

During the Delta peak, on September 21, there were 1266 hospitalised infections and 244 people in intensive care.

Despite comprising about six per cent of the population, unvaccinated people make up the majority of those in intensive care, Health Minister Brad Hazzard says.

To ensure hospital systems can cope, asymptomatic health workers who are in isolation due to being a close contact of a positive case will be permitted to leave isolation in "exceptional circumstances", NSW Health announced on Friday night.

The exemption to the public health order signed off by Mr Hazzard means close contacts can leave self-isolation to attend work if they have been identified by their employer as critical and cannot work from home.

The exemption only allows them to go from home to work and if they develop symptoms they have to get a PCR test and can't return to work until they test negative.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant warned earlier in the week there were likely more cases than health authorities knew about as testing systems faced backlogs caused by a huge demand for tests in the lead-up to Christmas.

National cabinet has changed isolation requirements for positive cases and close contacts and rapid antigen testing is taking the place of PCR tests in most circumstances.

Mr Perrottet says NSW will face short term challenges while waiting for 50 million rapid antigen tests the state has ordered, expected to arrive later in the month.

"We are continually looking at whether we need to purchase more," Mr Perrottet said on Friday.

The new cases were from 148,410 PCR tests and results have been delayed as demand has spiked.

The surge in cases to end the year has prompted some criticism of the Perrottet government that remained largely resistant to reintroducing restrictions, placing an onus on "personal responsibility".

Opposition Leader Chris Minns said the government's plan had been "chaotic and confusing" and the state was unprepared for millions of people to live with the virus.

"You've got a situation where pregnant women are waiting five and six hours to get PCR tests and it's clear the government was not prepared for the large increase in numbers over the last six or seven days," Mr Minns said on Friday.

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Australians have farewelled 2021 with a record number of cases, a vaccination rate among the highest in the world and a new plan for COVID-19.

Across all states and territories, Australia reported 32,941 new cases of COVID on Friday.

More than 21,000 of Friday's new cases were in NSW, followed by 5919 in Victoria and 3118 in Queensland.

The good news for those people is that from Friday, regardless of their vaccination status, positive cases will be able to leave isolation seven days after their initial positive test.

The federal government scrapped the need for infected people to take a day-six rapid test, less than a day after announcing it.

But Australia is still increasingly reliant on rapid antigen testing, prompting calls from industry groups for them to be made free or at least heavily subsidised.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said state testing centres would hand out rapid tests to those who require one under the rules, but they will not be provided free across the board.

"For all other casual uses, that is what the private market is for," he said.

The Australian Council of Social Services is concerned for vulnerable Australians who they say are often most at risk of catching COVID-19 and least able to afford the rapid tests.

"We are very concerned that people relying on income support payments just can't afford $70 for a rapid antigen test kit, leaving them unable to assess their risk from COVID-19 for themselves, their families and the community," president Peter McNamara said.

"It is irresponsible and callous of the federal government to fail to make provision for up to three million people already struggling to survive below the poverty line."

Not all have welcomed new changes to the definition of a close contact either, after national cabinet agreed a close contact is a household or household-like contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Rural Doctors Association president Megan Belot said now wasn't the right time to water down the rules.

"The new definition does not cover those who work together, at a time when many are returning to their regular workplace, and are in close contact for more than four hours each day, or those who have been exposed to the virus in close public settings," Dr Belot said.

She also expressed concern that market demand for RAT kits mean rural Australians will have reduced access and have to pay higher prices, comparing the kits to PPE early in the pandemic.

"Governments must ensure there is adequate access to RAT kits and PCR tests for all Australians, not just those in the cities," she said.

In his new year message on Friday, Mr Morrison was positive about a future, describing Australians as quietly confident people with an optimistic spirit.

"That is why, despite the pandemic, despite the floods, the fires, continuing drought in some areas, the cyclones, the lockdowns, even mice plagues, Australia is stronger today than we were a year ago," he said.

"And we're safer."

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A decision to stop boxer Mike Tyson entering Australia in 2001 went all the way to the top, previously private cabinet documents reveal.

The papers from John Howard's cabinet in 2001, made public on Saturday, noted Tyson would fail the character test set for travellers entering Australia.

Tyson was convicted in 1992 of raping an 18-year-old woman.

The cabinet decided it was appropriate to deny Tyson a visa, but noted the final decision rested with the immigration minister.

The newly declassified trove of documents also reveal cabinet weighed in on the visa application of high-profile rapper, Eminem, on character grounds.

Marshall Mathers III, who uses the stage name Eminem, was sentenced to two years' probation in the US months earlier for carrying a concealed weapon.

Then-immigration minister Philip Ruddock took into consideration the views of other cabinet members and ultimately decided to rubberstamp his visa, allowing the performer's two-day tour.

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Usman Khawaja's memorable Test debut against England at the SCG came amid a backdrop of chaos, now disorder of a different kind has the veteran on the cusp of a long-awaited recall.

Khawaja replaced injured captain Ricky Ponting in 2011, scoring a stylish 37 that gave local fans hope of a bright future as England cantered to a series win that triggered much introspection at Cricket Australia (CA).

The left-hander's international career appeared over after being axed in the 2019 Ashes.

But Travis Head's COVID-19 diagnosis, resulting in further Ashes disruption and much anxiousness at CA ahead of the fourth Test that begins on January 5, has put Khawaja on the cusp of a call-up.

Australia's selectors drafted Mitch Marsh, Nic Maddinson and would-be debutant Josh Inglis into an enlarged squad on Friday, fearing further coronavirus cases could emerge in coming days.

Opener Marcus Harris has stayed behind in Melbourne as a precaution after he had dinner with Head on Wednesday.

Assuming Harris doesn't test positive to COVID-19 in the coming days, he will rejoin his teammates in Sydney ahead of the fourth Test.

Chairman of selectors George Bailey and head coach Justin Langer may look to the future when settling on their XI.

However, if that transpires then Khawaja would have every right to feel aggrieved given he has served as a reserve batsman in the squad throughout summer.

The potential for further positive cases among Australia's players, families and support staff looms large after everyone in the touring party underwent PCR and RAT tests on Friday morning.

CA is determined to press on with this summer's schedule as planned despite a backdrop of cases in both squads, and 21,151 cases of COVID-19 reported by NSW Health on New Year's Eve.

High-performance boss Ben Oliver is confident Langer's side will adapt as they pursue a 5-0 series win, having retained the urn in Melbourne after three resounding victories.

"Certainly the COVID situation is evolving pretty quickly at the moment and we're seeing rising cases across the country," Oliver said.

"Our medical team have done an outstanding job in helping us navigate that across the whole of the pandemic.

"We're monitoring that on a daily basis now and considering if there are any additional things that we need to look at."

Head, who was man of the match in the hosts' series-opening win at the Gabba, is asymptomatic but will spend seven days isolating in Melbourne with his partner.

The South Australian should be available for the series finale in Hobart, which begins on January 14.

Australia and England were set to travel together to Sydney but a late change to arrangements meant they boarded separate charter flights.

England's touring party reported no new COVID-19 cases on Friday, meaning their outbreak is still limited to three support staff and four family members.

Head coach Chris Silverwood did not make the trip to Sydney because he is isolating as a close contact.

Match referee David Boon will be another omission for the SCG Test after testing positive for COVID-19.

"As part of our testing procedures, we are PCR testing players, their families and our support staff daily," a CA spokesperson said.

© AAP 2021