NSW has reported 5,612 new cases of COVID-19 and one death as the government tightens restrictions ahead of Christmas celebrations.
There are 382 people in hospital in NSW - an increase of 35 patients on the previous day's numbers. Eight more people are in intensive care, with 53 people in ICU.
Victoria reported 2,095 new infections and eight deaths across the same 24-hour period.
In Victoria, 397 people remain in hospital, with 75 patients in intensive care
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet reintroduced a swathe of restrictions on Thursday.
A mask mandate for indoor settings, except private homes, came into effect on Friday and will run until 27 January. Density limits on hospitality venues and mandatory QR check-ins will be in place from 27 December to 27 January after the state posted 5,715 cases on Thursday.
While the government had recommended people wear masks, the government had been reluctant to reintroduce a mask mandate, saying looking after one's health was a case of "personal responsibility".
Mr Perrottet also announced that rapid antigen tests will be provided for free to NSW residents after a supply shortage at pharmacies and stores created a backlog at PCR testing clinics.
He said these measures have been reintroduced to keep communities safe until more people become eligible to .
The state is not alone in bringing in new measures, with Victoria introducing stricter mask rules on Thursday, and Western Australia mandating masks for all public indoor settings and nightclubs closed until 28 December after a new community case.
Tasmania records 27 cases, new daily high
Tasmania has recorded 27 new coronavirus infections, the island state's most on a single day since the beginning of the pandemic.
The cases, reported on Friday, lift the number of active infections in the state to 79.
It comes a day after Tasmania recorded 26 cases, surpassing its previous record.
All the active cases have come since 15 December, when the state reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers.
Thirty-seven cases are being managed at home, 21 at a community facility and 19 are still being assessed or processed.
One case is in hospital for a different medical condition.
Health authorities had warned there would soon be locally transmitted cases.
"Within the coming days, we will start to see occasional cases of people who have been infected in Tasmania," Public Health Director Mark Veitch said on Thursday.
"That's a very important reason to be mindful of the community risk and to take steps to reduce the risk of getting infected."
More than 91 per cent of Tasmanians aged over 12 are fully vaccinated.
Capital cops COVID-19 spike
The ACT has reported a spike in COVID-19 cases with 102 new infections on Friday, the first time the Territory has recorded case numbers in the hundreds.
It's a jump from 85 cases on Thursday and 58 the day before.
But despite the rise, the number of people being treated in hospital for the virus fell to two on Friday from three.
There are no patients with COVID-19 requiring intensive care or ventilation.
The territory has also reached 98.5 per cent double dose vaccination coverage for people aged 12 and over.
Queensland gears up to become 'COVID-Ready'
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has asked residents to get ready for COVID-19 and prepare a care plan, after the state reported 589 new cases on Friday.
The state has announced a new COVID-19 care pathway, with advice on how people can prepare for a positive diagnosis as the virus spreads across the state.
"By getting COVID Ready, you're doing the same as we prepare for our bushfires, for our cyclones, for our floods that we do every year," Ms D'Ath said on Friday.
The advice recommends preparing a "COVID Ready kit", comprising a thermometer and pain relief, as well as a plan on who will take care of children if parents get sick.
Ms D'Ath also welcomed a shortening of the wait time for fully vaccinated Queenslanders to get a booster dose, as announced by the federal government on Friday.
after the second dose from 4 January, and three months from 31 January.
Queensland's active cases have risen to almost 1,400, but Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said only three patients were in hospital with mild to moderate symptoms.
A total of 268 infected people are being managed in their homes and 110 people are in hospital for other reasons.
"We expect large numbers of infections because of the very contagious nature of this Omicron variant," Dr Gerrard said on Friday.
"It is likely there will be significant numbers of admissions to hospital and you can help by wearing those masks."
