Each Omicron wave so far in Australia has had distinguishing features — the sharp rise and fall of BA.1, the widespread transmission among children and families in BA.2, a shift to more infections in older people with BA.5, then the confusing variant mix in the summer COVID wave of 2022-23.
Now Australia is in its fifth COVID variant Omicron wave, which has been brewing since February but it has grown so slowly that many people may have not realised it until recently.
abc.net.au reports that with most people in Australia now having been vaccinated against COVID, infected, or both, they expect the virus to spread more slowly through the population.
This means the overall number of infections in the current wave should be fewer than in previous ones. Infections should also occur over a longer period of time.
But they also know people are mixing and socialising more than in previous waves. So it is easier for viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) to be transmitted.
While these two factors counter each other, overall they expect to see reduced health impacts compared with previous waves.
They are already seeing fewer people with confirmed infections and fewer people who are unwell requiring hospitalisation.
Source : abc.net.au
