The Covid warning we’ve all been dreading ahead of New Year’s Eve
New Year's Eve revelers have been advised to wear face masks, test for Covid if they have symptoms and avoid large gatherings with rising cases.
Experts have warned that a new wave of Covid subvariants, which are less severe than the original virus but more contagious, are gripping Australia.
Although cases have risen, a lull in Covid testing and reporting has made it difficult to predict when the surge will peak.
Curtin University public health professor Jaya Dantas believes the worst of the wave is likely to hit next week, after large gatherings for Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Data from the Covid Live tracker shows that there has been an average of 964 new cases nationally over the past seven days.
New Year's Eve revelers have been advised to wear face masks, test for Covid if they have symptoms and avoid large gatherings where cases are rising
Experts have warned that a new wave of Covid subvariants, which are less severe than the original virus but more contagious, are gripping Australia.
As of December 27, 1,638 people were hospitalized with the virus and 22 were in intensive care.
NSW had the highest number of hospital admissions, with 811 being treated for Covid.
Prof Danatas believes the actual number of Australians sick with Covid is much higher.
“Our numbers would be much higher than what is reported… not enough testing is happening, but the number of cases is certainly increasing,” Professor Dantas told the Australian Financial Statement.
“Also in the period after Christmas and New Year, the number of Covid-19 cases will increase just because we are gathering, so we have to take small precautions.”
She advised that precautions include “sensible choices” such as wearing face masks in public and getting eligible booster shots.
Professor Adrian Esterman from the University of South Australia said while it is difficult to predict when cases will peak, it is clear there is “a lot of Covid around”.
Although cases have risen, a lull in Covid testing and reporting has made it difficult to predict when the surge will peak
He added that the most widely circulating subvariants were JN.1, HK.2 and HV.1, and urged Australians to top up their booster shots.
Symptoms of these strains included severe sore throat and sleep problems; fever was rarer than in previous variants.
Professor Esterman predicted Australia will experience another two or three waves of Covid in 2024.
'We will also likely see improved vaccines, such as nasal sprays or inhalants, and better antivirals. Long Covid will also be a big problem, with more people affected but fewer services available – not a good recipe,” he said.