Top SA epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman urges return of mask wearing as new variants emerge

A top SA diseases expert is urging the return of public health measures – including mask wearing – as two new strains are expected to take over in the state.

Mask wearing should return in South Australia as new and significantly more transmissible Covid strains take hold, a top epidemiologist has warned.

SA Health made a late-night statement on Monday about the detection of two new Omicron strains called BA. 4 and BA.5.

Epidemiologist from the University of South Australia, Professor Adrian Esterman said the reproduction rate of the new strains were as infectious as the highly contagious measles disease.

“What we know about them, is that they are 25 per cent more transmissible than BA.2. which is the one that’s currently circulating in Australia,” Prof Esterman said.

He warned of a potential surge in reinfections among the community.

“The thing about viruses, is what gives a new mutation an advantage is being more transmissible,” he said.

“In this particular case with BA. 4 … it can more easily evade our immunity.”

Prof Esterman said the community should “absolutely” be wearing masks as the new strain takes hold.

“The majority of the public is over it and don’t care, the government simply is pandering to the masses, it’s no longer listening to public health advice,” he said.

“And what that does is, it leaves our vulnerable people at risk, and thousands of South Australians with long term health problems.

“We’ve got new variants on the way, they’re much more transmissible so what are we doing? Removing all of our public health measures. It literally flies in the face of common sense.”

Masks should return in public settings according to Professor Esterman. Picture: Keryn Stevens

The new strains have dominated in South Africa, and the same thing will happen here, Prof Esterman said.

“They will take over, there’s no question, because they are much more transmissible than previous ones … what that will mean is that case numbers will eventually start to go up again, and if case numbers go up, hospitalisations will go up, deaths will go up,” he said.

Mask mandates along with the requirement for businesses to have a Covid marshal were scrapped on Good Friday – April 15.

The new variants were discovered in SA after genome sequencing samples were taken in a group of international travellers.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said there was no evidence the strains were more severe but they were being closely monitored by authorities.

The state government has been contacted for comment.