Aussies warned of “nightmare variant”
NSW’s chief health officer Kerry Chant has warned that Australia is on the brink of another Covid wave.
The health official said that sub-variants BQ. 1 and XBB are well on the way of becoming the dominant strain over BA.5 in Australia
Dr Chant said the XBB strain, which recently emerged in Singapore, is ripping through the nation at an alarming rate.
Some international experts have described the XBB strain as the “nightmare variant” and the “most vaccine-resistant yet”.
“We're starting to see an increase in Covid-19 cases and changes in the variants circulating in NSW, which tells us that we're entering the next Covid wave,” Dr Chant said in a video.
“By looking at all the local information we have, and what's happening overseas, we believe Covid cases will rise in the coming weeks.”
She asked Aussies to keep up to date with their vaccinations to ensure the protection of the vulnerable.
“The protection the NSW community has from vaccination and previous infection continues to reduce the risk of severe illness,” she continued.
“However the elderly and those with underlying health conditions continue to be at risk.”
Image: ABC