Third wave of Covid-19 infections yet to peak

A rise in coronavirus infections and hospitalisations from the potentially fatal infection still has a long way to run, the federal government says.

Health Minister Mark Butler says Covid-19 cases are not likely to peak nationally for at least four weeks during this third wave of infections.

‘‘All of the modelling indicates that case numbers and hospitalisations have further to go over probably the next four to six weeks,’’ he said yesterday.

‘‘We’ve seen some data out this morning that suggests that Covid is the largest killer of Australians this year, taking over from coronary disease.’’

Meanwhile, Covid-19 reinfections are becoming more common across the country as new sub-variants of the virus circulate.

University of Queensland Associate Professor Paul Griffin said people should not become complacent about the virus, warning those who had been recently infected could be reinfected in a matter of weeks.

‘‘We are seeing reinfections being more common and in short intervals, and that is why we recommend the reinfection period be reduced to four weeks,’’ he told the Seven Network.

‘‘If you get symptoms again, you need to assume it could be a new infection.’’

The Australian Health Protection

Principal Committee has recommended the reinfection period be reduced from its current 12 weeks to 28 days, following the rise of cases of the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variant.

This means people will be required to get tested and isolate if they re-develop symptoms 28 days after recovering from the virus, and could be reported and managed as new cases.

NSW and Western Australia have already followed suit.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are circulating widely in NSW.

‘‘They are more able to evade immunity gained from previous infection and vaccination. Reinfection is more likely and possible just weeks after a prior infection,’’ she said.

‘‘We’re urging people who have recently had Covid-19, even if they left isolation in the past four weeks, not to be complacent. If you develop symptoms again, make sure to test and isolate.’’

Griffin said the rise in new Covid-19 infections alongside an increase in influenza cases was also concerning.

‘‘This is translating into significant numbers in hospitals, with predictions . . . we may exceed the hospitalisations we saw in the first big wave in January,’’ he said. ‘‘We cannot assume people are protected just because they’ve had Covid, you need to be up to date with your vaccines and linking with therapies if you are eligible.’’ – AAP