Health expert says ‘steady’ increase of new Omicron variant nothing to worry about for Queenslanders

After NSW flagged the potential return of masks and work-from-home orders, an expert has said it’s unlikely Queenslanders will face the same fate just yet.

Despite a “slow and steady” increase in Covid-19 cases linked to the new Omicron subvariant, health experts say Queenslanders shouldn’t be alarmed.

Since December last year, less than 1 per cent of Covid-19 test samples detected the new BA. 2 subvariant, however Queensland Health said a “slow and steady cumulative increase” had been observed since then.

“Genomic sequencing is not done on every sample, but we undertake random and priority group sampling to understand the current variant/s or sublineages circulating in the community,” a Queensland Health spokeswoman said.

This week, New South Wales Health flagged the possible return of masks and working from home orders as the state saw a spike in cases linked to BA.2.

Infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin

However, top infectious diseases expert Paul Griffin said Queenslanders wouldn’t have to worry about doing the same anytime soon.

“It’s good we’re aware that there’s a subvariant out there so we can emphasise the most important mitigation strategies we have, which is vaccination including booster,” he said.

“Outside of that I don’t think we need to do anything different right now.”

Dr Griffin said although he believed masks would continue being used throughout the state, current case figures have shown there’s no need for their immediate return.

“If we have a sustained upward trend in new case numbers and we start seeing it place an increased burden on our health care system, then I think that condition should be considered,” he said.

Even though the new subvariant has proven to be more transmissible than Omicron BA. 1, Dr Griffin says all current evidence has shown it’s no more severe.

“We can expect cases to fluctuate, and some of that increase might be linked to that new subvariant, but it’s likely other factors will also contribute to case numbers going up and down over time,” he said.

It comes as more than 3700 new cases were recorded in Queensland on Monday, while another two people lost their lives.

The number of people being treated in hospital has dropped to 233 however there are 19 people in ICU.

One of the new cases was Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, who said she was presenting mild symptoms and would be working from home this week.

“I am grateful that I have received all of my vaccination shots,” she wrote on social media.

“It is a timely reminder for all Queenslanders that Covid is still in our community.”

Ms D’Ath, who will miss this week’s parliamentary sitting week, is the second Minister to contract Covid-19 after Education Minister Grace Grace tested positive in late January.