Cheeky Aussie bargain shoppers explain why the Covid outbreak doesn't bother them at all - with one bloke's desire for a new lockdown bound to make many FURIOUS

• e-mail

As most parts of Australia are hit by the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant and exploding case numbers, it appears at least some young Aussies are still keeping their cool. 

Two shoppers from NSW and Queensland were interviewed by Channel Ten reporters as they attended Boxing Day sales, with many shops seeing a huge dip in customers amid surging Covid infections. 

In a segment filmed for Channel 10, one young woman appeared unperturbed by the prospect of the 'Rona' while another man brazenly called for a statewide lockdown - but only so he can get '$750 from Centrelink'. 

A reporter asked the woman how she felt about the crowds of people at the annual sales. 

'I was going to go to Chirnside but the city has more stock, so I thought might come to the city, but like might get 'Rona,' the keen shopper replied breezily. 

'I was going to go to Chirnside but the city has more stock, so I thought might come to the city, but like might get Rona,' the keen shopper replied when asked how she felt about the crowds

The Project panel burst into laughter as panellist Tom Cashman told his colleagues her 'flippant' response was nothing compared to another Sydney resident. 

The young man was asked by another reporter how safe he felt in a busy shopping centre despite a steep rise in the state's Covid case numbers. 

'I don't even care to be honest,' he replied.

'I just want another lockdown so Centrelink can pay me $750.'

'I think he may have a bit too much faith in the government,' Mr Cashman joked.  

The young man (pictured) joked that he wanted another state-wide lockdown in NSW so Centrelink could pay him $750 

Their sentiments come as Australia hits 10,000 daily cases for the first time ever as the Omicron variant drives an uptick in new infections. 

NSW recorded 6,324 new Covid cases, with 1,999 in Victoria and 784 in Queensland, as the states experience a post-Christmas spike as thousands travel interstate. 

Those travelling to the Sunshine State are required to produce a negative PCR test however the government is reviewing if just a rapid antigen test will be sufficient. 

The requirement has caused a backlog of tests at facilities which have been overwhelmed by demand over the festive period. 

Residents have experienced wait times of almost four hours at some clinics with results taking almost 100 hours to come back in some instances. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has since been slammed for insisting on a PCR test for travellers within 72 hours of arrival at the Queensland border. 

Australia has hit 10,000 daily cases for the first time in the nation's history as the Omicron variant drives an uptick in new infections (pictured, Christmas shoppers in Melbourne)

Residents have experienced wait times of almost four hours at some testing clinics with results taking almost 100 hours to come back in some instances (pictured, lines in Melbourne)

'No one estimated 400,000 people would apply to come to Queensland,' Ms Palaszczuk hit back on Monday. 

'Everybody knew when they booked a ticket to come here that they would have to adhere by having that PCR test.'

A change to a 'screening' rapid antigen test for entry to the state after January 1 was still being considered by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. 

'Now that we've had 400,000 border passes, we need to make sure that we are protecting Queenslanders but as the world is moving towards rapid antigen tests, it's something we are closely looking at,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 

In NSW, there are 52 people in ICU, 34 of whom are unvaccinated. That rose slightly to 55 by Monday morning. 

In NSW, there are 52 people in ICU, 34 of whom are unvaccinated. That rose slightly to 55 by Monday morning (pictured, a man is swabbed in a drive-through clinic in Sydney)

Those travelling to the Sunshine State are required to produce a negative PCR test however the government is reviewing if just a rapid antigen test will be sufficient

All but a handful of these patients are infected with the Delta variant rather than the new Omicron strain, which early studies indicate is less severe.

'Everybody in NSW is probably going to get Omicron at some stage. Everyone in Australia,' NSW Health minister Brad Hazzard said.

'From early indications NSW Health believe the majority of ICU Covid patients have the Delta variant. Health are seeking to confirm this through additional tests.'

Despite another 6,324 new infections on Monday, officials encouraged people to live life normally as studies indicate Omicron isn't as serious as its predecessors.

Mr Hazzard also pleaded with Australians to only get a PCR test if they had symptoms or were directed to as a close contact, and instead to use rapid antigen.

He said the time delay at overwhelmed clinics meant results would take so long, residents could catch the virus between testing and getting results.

Residents are being encouraged to live life normally as studies indicate Omicron isn't as serious as its predecessors (pictured, people queue for a test in Melbourne)

NSW recorded 6,324 new Covid cases with 1,999 in Victoria and 784 in Queensland, as the states experience a post-Christmas spike (pictured, shoppers on Boxing Day in Sydney)

'If you have a test today and then you are visiting Aunty Mabel in three or four days, it may well be that by then, you are positive,' Mr Hazzard said.

'A far simpler, far quicker measure would be simply to be get a rapid antigen test… preferably half an hour or an hour beforehand.

'If you're not particularly sick, you probably don't need to be doing very much except probably taking some Panadol if you've got a temperature and making sure you're drinking plenty of fluids.'

Free rapid tests will be rolled out from 2022 onwards at the NSW government looks to normalise living with the virus.

It comes as calls are growing for changes to Covid-19 self-isolation rules as businesses and hospitals face a staff shortage crisis.

Free rapid tests will be rolled out from 2022 onwards at the NSW government looks to normalise living with the virus (pictured, people queue for a test in Redfern on Christmas Eve)

Calls are growing for changes to Covid-19 self-isolation rules as businesses and hospitals face a staff shortage crisis (pictured, people queue at a drive-through clinic in Bondi)

Under current rules in most Australian states, close contacts of a Covid case have to isolate for seven days even if they test negative. 

The rules put about 2,000 healthcare workers out of action in NSW alone, leading to staff shortages at hospitals, aged care centres, and GP clinics.

Businesses including restaurants, bars and cafes are also struggling with staff amid the rapid spread of the more infectious Omicron variant.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was in discussions about changing the isolation requirements for health staff as the shortages become more unsafe than the spread of the virus itself. 

'I'm certainly in deep conversation over probably the last week... about whether or not it's viable to have staff coming back sooner,' he said.