New Covid-19 wave to hit WA

With “the next Covid-19 wave” expected in the coming weeks, a respiratory expert says there’s no need to panic.

“We need to learn to live with Covid-19. Infection and reinfection are possible and new variants will always evolve,” Professor Moodley from the Institute for Respiratory Health said.

The warning comes as two new variants of Omicron have been identified by the World Health Organization.

“XBB and BQ.1 haven’t been associated with an increase in new infections and don’t currently warrant a public health concern,” Professor Moodley said.

The XBB strain emerged in Singapore last week with transmission levels low across Australia. It has been detected in 35 countries.

The new wave comes as research from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance shows that at least 65 per cent of Australian adults and 64 per cent of children have been infected with Covid-19 recently.

“Vaccines are still the best defence against future waves of Covid-19. New variants aren’t necessarily a problem and we shouldn’t panic at every new mutation,” Professor Moodley said.

“If you have symptoms get tested and stay at home if you have cold and flu symptoms.”

The BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants continue to be the most common strains in Australia but their dominance is declining.