Australians told to ‘stay at home’ as two new Covid variants spread and hospital admissions rise

Australians affected by Covid are being warned to ‘stay at home’ as case numbers rise to their highest level in more than a year.

Two new, highly contagious variants – JN.1 and HV.1 – have spread rapidly over the Christmas period, with Victoria and New South Wales seeing a rise in hospital admissions.

More than 1,400 infected people have presented to emergency departments in NSW in the past week, with 400 admitted to hospital.

The seven-day average of hospital admissions in Victoria has risen to 377.

Two new highly contagious variants – JN.1 and HV.1 – have spread rapidly over the Christmas period, with a surge in hospital admissions in Victoria and New South Wales. Pictured: Shoppers in Sydney on Boxing Day

“That’s just people presenting to the hospital, so we know there are many more people out there who are fortunately not sick enough to require hospitalization or an emergency department visit,” said James McAnulty , head of NSW Health’s Department of Health Protection, Tuesday.

‘This reflects the high level of Covid activity in the community at the moment.’

He urged anyone who tests positive to be responsible and think of the safety of others.

‘Stay at home if you have complaints until the complaints disappear. If you have to go out for essential reasons, wear a mask,” he said.

‘Do not visit other people, especially those at high risk, and especially do not go to retirement homes, residential care centers or disability services.’

Meanwhile, Victoria is in the midst of another Covid-19 wave as increases in community transmission lead to a rapid rise in hospital admissions.

The new sub-variant of the virus, JN.1, has taken over as the most common variant of Covid in the state, mirroring the same trend felt internationally.

NSW and Victoria are in the midst of another Covid-19 wave as increases in community transmission lead to a rapid rise in hospital admissions (Photo: A shopper in Sydney in 2021)

Symptoms can appear within 2-14 days of exposure to the virus, with a runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and fever all common symptoms (Royal Melbourne Hospital, 2021)

This follows a large number of cases detected in November, although the numbers are not as high as the peak levels seen during the surge in May and June last year, which saw a seven-day average of 488 hospital admissions.

The housing and care sectors have been urged to activate policies aimed at protecting people at serious risk from Covid-19, including older Victorians, people suffering from medical conditions, and aged and disability care patients.

People in those groups are urged to use masks, and surveillance testing is recommended.

Victorians have been reminded that symptoms can occur within 2 to 14 days of exposure to the virus, with a runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and fever all common symptoms.

While mandatory mask regulations expired in early 2022, at-risk Victorians are urged to wear them in high-risk settings or if they feel they have symptoms.

The Ministry of Health plans to continue monitoring and monitoring surveillance indicators, such as hospitalizations and wastewater testing, until transmission trends trend downward.

While mandatory mask regulations expired in early 2022, at-risk Victorians are urged to wear them in high-risk settings or if they feel they have symptoms

Earlier on Monday, Victoria’s chief health officer warned that the emergence of JN.1 had created a “wave upon wave” pattern, with the variant spreading just as the state emerged from an earlier wave of the disease.

“Part of the concern with this new variant is actually the speed at which it takes off,” Dr Clare Looker told Nine Newspapers.

“So over a few weeks we’ve seen it very quickly become the dominant variant in the community.”