Dr Norman Swan advises Australians to ‘stay outdoors; wear masks’ to avoid Covid Christmas surge

A leading voice during the pandemic has warned Christmas could be ruined – and there could be deaths – if Aussies don’t ramp up Covid measures.

One of the leading health commentators during the height of the Covid pandemic has said Australians should consider wearing masks and staying outdoors to avoid ruining Christmas as cases once again surge.

Talking on The Project on Tuesday night, Dr Norman Swan, who presents the Health Report on the ABC and has consistently warned of the risk of underestimating Covid-19, also said people should “put their big boy pants on” and get a fresh vaccine if they hadn’t had one in more than a year.

Infections are rising across Australia with Omicron sub variants EG.5 (Eris) and BA. 2.86 (Pirola) the current threats.

In New South Wales alone, Covid-19 numbers have increased by 20 per cent in the past fortnight.

Two new Covid vaccines – one from Moderna and another from Pfizer – have just been approved for use in Australia and should be available from December 11.

On Tuesday’s The Project, Dr Norman Swan advised Australians to wear a mask and get jabbed with a booster shot to avoid ruining Christmas. Picture: Channel 10.

But there are concerns that fewer people getting up to date Covid jabs could see thousands of, particularly older and vulnerable Australians, die next year.

However, any outbreak is likely to be less severe than those at the height of the pandemic due to general immunity from a combination of vaccines and past infections.

Asked by The Project presenter Waleed Aly what Australians could do to avoid a Covid Christmas, Dr Swan said: “Stay outdoors; don’t go indoors to stuffy environments; wear masks to protect yourself”.

“And if you’ve got symptoms – like a runny nose or a cough – stay away from your relatives.”

The Project host Waleed Aly Asked Dr Swan who Australians could keep themselves ahead of the Covid surge. Picture: Channel 10.

‘Put big boy pants on’

Dr Swan added that if people hadn’t had a booster jab this year so far, they should wait for the new variant after December 11 to get a vaccination.

But if they had already had a booster in 2023 it was probably fine to wait until next year to get another injection, unless they were in a high risk group, such as being older.

“For those who have not had a jab in 2023, you haven’t had one in a while, put on your big boy pants or big girl pants and go and get one.

“There is vaccination fatigue,” Dr Swan said, however he warned, “this is not a mild virus and death rates are going back up again”.

Two updated Covid vaccines have been approved for use in Australia. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP)

Vaccine rates falling

This week, NSW Health’s director of communicable diseases Christine Selvey warned the latest wave is likely to peak at Christmas for “the third year in a row”.

“Nobody has a crystal ball, but the modelling that we do have suggests that the increase will continue up through and into December,” Dr Selvey said.

University of Sydney and Westmead Institute for Medical Research Professor Tony Cunningham told news.com.au that if infections and vaccination rates continue at similar levels there could be 3000 deaths in the first six months of next year – with aged care residents most at risk.

University of NSW Kirby Institute epidemiologist Raina Macintyre blamed government for vaccination rates not being as high as they should be, lashing all levels of government for mixed messaging around the virus.

“The public messaging is that the pandemic is over, people have nothing to worry about, it is trivial and when you put out that kind of message out no wonder people are slow to get a booster,” Prof Macintyre said.

“The message needs to be that Covid-19 is very much around, it is on the up tick, serious infection and vaccination does protect against serious outcomes.

“If you are due for booster, you should have one.”

Originally published as Dr Norman Swan advises Australians to ‘stay outdoors; wear masks’ to avoid Covid Christmas surge