An epidemiologist has revealed when Australia can anticipate the subsequent wave of Covid infections to peak, however one state will expertise a surge a lot earlier than the remainder.
The Omicron wave peaked throughout the nation on the finish of final yr, in line with infectious illnesses doctor and microbiologist Peter Collignon.
The Australian National University professor advised NCA NewsWire that “numbers everywhere appear to be going down”, with important falls in hospitalisations.
Federal figures present 1430 individuals are in hospital with Covid, down from 2753 final month.
The variety of individuals in intensive care has greater than halved in the identical month from 102 to 44 sufferers.
Despite the constructive news, Professor Collignon warned that the nation could be hit by one other surge of Covid infections in the midst of the yr.
“Unless something dramatic happens in Europe and America, my expectation is that we will probably see another peak in winter or late autumn,” he stated.
However, specialists predict South Australia will expertise a peak even sooner because the state prepares for a month of festivals in March.
State modelling suggests the state might file as many as 1100 circumstances a day as tens of hundreds guests flock to benefit from the cultural celebrations.
It’s predicted that as much as 100 individuals a day shall be hospitalised with infections in the direction of the top of March.
Both numbers are nonetheless beneath the December peak, which Professor Collignon stated was in line with the waning virulence of Covid.
“As time goes on, these peaks as judged by deaths, and intensive care admissions will be smaller not bigger,” he stated.
“I do think 2023 will be much better from now on than what we’ve had over the last year or so.”
He defined that Australia’s outlook was optimistic as a result of the Omicron pressure was much less lethal and extra individuals had been vaccinated.
More than 90 per cent of Australians have already had Covid, so the worst of the consequences have already been felt.
“It’s not as if we’re not going to have any problems, but it’s just going to be markedly less than a month or two ago,” Professor Collignon stated.
Australia’s fatality price has fallen dramatically from 1 or 2 per cent in 2020 to solely 0.1 per cent of circumstances recognized.
Professor Collignon, who can also be the manager director of ACT Pathology at Canberra Hospital, stated Covid could be akin to influenza.
He predicts Covid can have the same dying toll to the flu, which claims the lives of 2000 to 3000 Australians annually.
The greatest approach to defend in opposition to Covid is to keep away from crowded indoor settings, keep dwelling when sick and commonly wash your arms.
“Bars, clubs, gyms are probably more dangerous than going to a concert, even if it’s indoors,” Professor Collignon warned.
He suggests all weak individuals get vaccinated by May with the intention to put together for the winter surge in Covid infections.
Originally printed as Covid surge looms over one state as subsequent Aussie peak revealed
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
