Variant Unlikely to Take People to Hospital: Dr Fong
All COVID-19 circulating variants are more transmissible, however protection against severe disease and hospitalisation are being maintained.
That is the assurance from the Ministry of Heath Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong.
He made the comments after the new variant of the virus - XXB was detected at the national border in Nadi recently.
“XXB variant had been picked in specimens from a traveller and one of our community cases,” he said. “Thus our announcement that it is part of our surge of febrile illness. “In the same manner, BA.1, BA. 2, BA. 4.6, BA.5, BA 5.6, BQ. 1 and BQ1.1 have also been confirmed as part of the surge of febrile illness.” Dr Fong said they would be testing up to 47 samples next week from around the country in the whole genomic sequencing unit at the country’s Center for Disease Control laboratory in Tamavua.
“Our understanding at present is that based on current data, all circulating variants are more transmissible, however protection against severe disease and hospitalisation is being maintained,” he said.
“We are also aware that XBB.1.5 isn’t significantly more severe than previous COVID-19 variants.” Dr Fong said it was mentioned by
University of Sydney infectious disease expert Professor Robert Booy in a recent report, that the virus was more transmissible, active, young and able to get around, but it was not more severe, virulent and not likely to put someone in hospital.
“As such our medical caseloads remain manageable and the current wave of COVID cases are not causing undue stress to the health system,” he said.