A swell bringing large waves to the shores off Napier’s foreshore has seen Pacific Beach closed to swimmers on an otherwise perfect Hawke’s Bay day.Regional paid lifeguards supervisor John Callinicos said the surf, on a beach already…

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Experts hope the number of Omicron variant cases in Australia will peak in the coming weeks as overseas data shows new infections are decreasing.

New data from South Africa has sparked hope the fourth wave of COVID-19 may soon be over after the country recorded a rapid decline in cases.

The latest numbers show South African cases have dropped by 30 per cent in the last week to fewer than 11,500 cases a day.

LIVE UPDATES: COVID-19 numbers explode across multiple states

The nation recorded more than 37,000 infections at the height of the outbreak in early December.

South African health authorities now believe they may have passed the peak of the Omicron outbreak.

Australia to reach peak in one to three weeks

Australia reached a record high of COVID-19 cases today, reporting 47,738 infections nationwide.

"Those significant case numbers, they do continue to rise. They are large numbers that we've never before seen in Australia," Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Sonya Bennett said.

"I think at this point, we all know somebody who's either got COVID or we've got co-workers off work."

Hospital cases around the country are at 362, with the number of people in ICU at 194.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy said Australia is not far off seeing the peak of Omicron variant infections.

"We'll see a peak in Australia within weeks during January in different parts of Australia. Sydney will probably peak first then Melbourne and then other parts of Australia will follow soon after," he said.

READ MORE: Queensland island split in two by cyclone swells

It's understood hospitalisations usually peak a week later than the height of case numbers.

Omicron has become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Australia, however, there are still many cases of Delta still in the country, largely in New South Wales and Victoria.

UK Omicron wave may soon decline

Meanwhile, the South African data has prompted speculation that the UK may soon be heading down a similar path where COVID-19 cases begin to decline.

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UK health authorities have predicted their peak in hospital admissions will be this week or next week.

Daily cases in the UK are however continuing to climb, currently sitting at 162,572.

Authorities said they are starting to see some stabilisation of hospital numbers in London.

US continues to see a surge of Omicron variant infections

The US is continuing to record a surge in COVID-19 cases and the country is now averaging 400,000 new infections each day.

More than 103,000 people are currently hospitalised with the virus in the US, the first time the total has reached six figures in nearly four months.

Some states are also reporting a surge in the number of children hospitalised.

US researchers said their modelling also shows Omicron could be short-lived, with research showing the country may reach the peak within weeks rather than months.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched an investigation into complaints of price gouging by retailers selling COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.

The move comes as angry and frustrated Australians continue to report high prices being charged for rapid antigen tests (RATs) amid a desperate shortage of stock at most chemists and retail stores.

The ACCC has so far received more than 100 complaints from consumers about excessive prices being asked for RAT tests.

READ MORE: Morrison accused of allowing Aussies to be 'ripped off' for rapid tests

"We are seeking information from suppliers about their costs and the current pricing of rapid antigen tests," ACCC Chair Rod Sims said.

"We are also contacting major retailers and pharmacies seeking similar information and reminding them that they need to be able to substantiate any claims they make to consumers about the reason for higher prices."

While suppliers are generally able to set their own prices, businesses must not make false or misleading statements about the reason for high prices.

"We won't be shy to name and shame suppliers and retailers we consider to be doing the wrong thing," Mr Sims said.

9News understands Prime Minister Scott Morrison will take a plan to subsidise rapid tests for pensioners and low-income earners to National Cabinet tomorrow.

The tests are available to buy at various retailers at differing prices.

It comes as some convenience stores through UberEats at inflated prices.

One shop has listed a two-pack of tests for $65. This is more than double the $30 they are listed for at major supermarkets and chemists.

https://twitter.com/cokeefe9/status/1478242982650384390

9News reporter Airlie Walsh posted photos on Twitter yesterday afternoon of single RAT tests being sold at an Edgecliff service station in Sydney's eastern suburbs for $30 each.

Another Twitter user, Vito Carrozzo, also expressed his disgust at seeing online retailer Kogan selling one Innoscreen RAT test for $44.99.

When 9news.com.au checked, the product did not appear on Kogan's website, however, several other home testing kits were listed as sold out.

https://twitter.com/AirlieWalsh/status/1477869342075150337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

A Bondi resident, who asked not to be named, told 9news.com.au a convenience store on Campbell Parade was selling a packet of two RAT tests for $59.99.

"I requested two and was told it would be $121 including credit surcharge," he said.

"They said it was a more expensive brand which is why it cost double the normal amount."

The man said he later searched for the same product online and noticed it was being sold at $25.99 for a pack of two at Blooms The Chemist online.

Mr Sims said eBay was the source of many complaints to the ACCC and he was also aware of concerns about prices being charged for RAT tests through Kogan.

https://twitter.com/VitoCarrozzo/status/1477944850423037954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Australians are being urged to contact the ACCC if they see retailers attempting to sell rapid antigen tests at excessive prices.

Demand has surged for rapid tests in Australia after some states, including Queensland, moved from PCR testing requirements to RATs for interstate travellers.

Last week, the National Cabinet also changed its guidelines for who qualifies for PCR testing, making home testing the go-to for initial COVID-19 screening in many cases.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised last week rapid tests would be available for free at COVID-19 testing sites for those required to take one, including close contacts.

However, Mr Morrison has continued to resist calls to make the tests free for everyone, saying he does not want to undercut Aussie businesses selling them.

"We're now at a stage of the pandemic where you can't just make everything free, because when someone tells you they want to make something free, someone's always going to pay for it and it will be you," Mr Morrison said.

Testing facilities have been inundated across the country this year, with many people lining up for hours before being turned away. This has impacted the accessibility of rapid tests at these sites.

Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said this morning the situation was a mess.

"Australians are being told you're on your own, go out and get a rapid antigen test, but they're not available in so many areas," Mr Albanese said.

"If people are lucky enough to find one, they're not affordable. And for many people that's simply pricing them out of access to that important health care.

"And of course, we have no action from the federal government when it comes to price gouging.

Chemist Warehouse director Mario Tascone yesterday joined the chorus of people demanding for rapid testing to be made more accessible and affordable, suggesting the GST cut as an option to relieve pressure on retailers.

Peak advocacy organisation People with Disability Australia (PWDA) said in a statement released this afternoon the government should make rapid antigen testing free for the wider community but particularly for people with a disability and workers in the sector.

"Government has a clear responsibility to keep people with disability safe by providing safe and free in home testing, including PCR testing for those who cannot safely travel," PWDA president Samantha Connor said.

Ms Connor, an advocate and disability rights activist, said Australia could look overseas for good models to follow.

"In the United Kingdom, a twice weekly preventative regime is in place to ensure that people with disability who receive care services are safe from COVID," she said.

"People with disability and their caregivers are able to access rapid antigen tests in the UK, including via mail, as part of a wider preventative regime of COVID-safe strategies."

National Cabinet last week pledged to "work on arrangements to provide RAT tests to vulnerable cohorts such as remote Indigenous communities as well as in school settings and exceptional circumstances".

Contact reporter Emily McPherson at em********@******om.au.

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More dangerous and hazardous surf conditions will hit the coast of Queensland and New South Wales today.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the coastline from the NSW Central Coast to Queensland's Sunshine Coast has been hit by "abnormally high tides".

"Places like Byron Bay have seen average waves of five metres," meteorologist Agata Imielska said.

"The highest wave we saw in Byron Bay was 10 metres."

READ MORE: More than 20 Sydney COVID-19 testing sites shut temporarily

NSW Police Superintendent Murray Reynolds said the dangerous surf conditions have caused an increased risk of water tragedies.

"Just in the last week we've seen a number of tragic incidents that have resulted in the death of people in and around or waterways," he said.

"One of the most difficult aspects of policing is investigating fatalities and understanding the outcome was entirely preventable."

It comes as another drowning occurred in NSW yesterday, with police locating the body of a 38-year-old man at a lake in Mt Annan.

Marine Rescue NSW has carried out 560 rescues in December which is an increase of more than 29 per cent compared to December 2020.

Authorities have urged holiday goers to implement water safety such as wearing a life jacket, not entering the water if you can't swim, and swimming between the flags at beaches.

The massive swells and dangerous winds have forced the closure of multiple beaches along the Gold Coast and Coffs Coast in NSW.

George Shales, Surf Life Saving NSW, said the "large swell conditions and high tides is making it extremely dangerous".

"In terms of beaches today we've got 146 beaches that should be open, 80 per cent are closed today," he said.

A 47-year-old woman died in rough seas at Park Beach in Coffs Harbour yesterday afternoon.

A wave of nine metres was recorded off the Tweed Heads and the powerful king tide was seen pulling a shipping container full of kegs of beer along a Gold Coast beach.

READ MORE: Queensland island split in two by cyclone swells

Bribie Island, off the coast of Brisbane, was split in two by a powerful torrent.

Ex-tropical cyclone Seth has caused dangerous surf conditions, the BoM said.

The hazardous surf conditions are expected to peak on Wednesday morning and then ease.

However as the dangerous surf eases, NSW will see the return of thunderstorm risks, Ms Imielska said.

"The thunderstorm risk will be of particular concern for the southern part of the state from Wednesday into Friday," she said.

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Much of the country will also be hit with sweltering temperatures today as a three-day heatwave hammers multiple states.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said "areas of severe heatwave conditions are forecast to cover the west of Queensland, the south and centre east of the Northern Territory, and a small area is forecast near Giles in Western Australia".

https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1477783255122337803

Western Australia is forecast to reach 49C later in the week.

Currently Seth is sitting about 250-kilometres south east of Brisbane but the system is weakening.

Police have arrested a youth on the side of a Hawke’s Bay highway after a fleeing driver’s high profile escapade through the region was brought to a halt by road spikes.A police spokesman said the drama began when police were called…