There are calls for a pandemic advisory group amid criticism of the government’s handling of the hospital system and pandemic response.

The group would include Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant and front line clinicians advising the government on the next steps in the pandemic.

2943 people are currently in hospital, with 183 of those in ICU.

NSW Medical Staff Executive Council co-chair Dr Tony Joseph told Ray Hadley the government “let it rip” on December 15 when it lifted almost all restrictions.

“The COVID pandemic’s unmasked the under-resourcing of public hospitals.

“We need to work out how to rapidly decrease the community transmission so the workload in the hospital is decreased.”

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