ANKARA

Australia on Friday reported more than 32,000 COVID-19 cases, its highest single-day tally since the start of the pandemic, local media reported.

New South Wales (NSW) registered 21,151 cases, while Victoria recorded 5,919 cases, according to the ABC News.

The new cases across the country spiked from 21,341 on Thursday.

The country also reported six fatalities over the past 24 hours.

Health authorities have urged the public to follow COVID-19 guidelines while celebrating the New Year.

"We know it's been a challenging year for everyone, and we understand people want to come together to celebrate the New Year. We thank the community for their incredible efforts to stay COVID-safe and ask them to continue these behaviours," said NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant in a statement.

"But it's important to remember that COVID-19 is active in our communities and people are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, particularly in indoor environments," Chant said.

Australia so far fully vaccinated its 91.4% people over the age of 16 while 94.4% have had received single dose, according to the Health Ministry.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid