Singapore | Public health experts are warning a new COVID-19 wave is about to break in Australia as more recent strains of the virus, including XBB, take hold. Singapore is coming off the crest of its XBB wave, heath authorities say. Here’s what you should know.

First, if you’ve managed to dodge COVID-19 so far, your luck may have run out. The XBB sub-variant is a singularly successful escape artist. The combination of two strains of the omicron variant has at least seven mutations along the spike of the virus, which makes it harder for antibodies made by vaccines to recognise and repel it. It’s more “immune evasive” than previous strains.