Victoria battling a ‘further wave’ of Covid-19, as hospitalisations and case numbers soar

Fears are growing over a worrying new Covid wave in Victoria after the “rapid growth” of vaccine-resistant, mutant strains.

The state’s chief health officer believes a “further wave” of Covid-19 has started as virus hospitalisations continue to soar, placing pressure on the state’s ailing healthcare system.

CHO Professor Brett Sutton has warned the public about “continued and rapid growth” of Omicron subvariants in Victoria which have driven overseas hospitalisations.

His weekly report says the rise in cases of the BQ. 1 and XBB subvariants is concerning due to their “ability to escape immunity from past infection” and “waning immunity from past vaccination”.

The XBB strain, which is resistant to vaccines and antibodies from previous infections, emerged in Singapore a few weeks ago.

Victoria has been hit with a new wave of Covid-19 cases. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

New data reveals 256 patients with Covid are being treated in hospitals across Victoria, with the seven-day rolling average for hospitalisations surging by 34 per cent week-on-week.

“This suggests a further wave of Covid-19 has started in Victoria,” Prof Sutton said in his weekly update on Friday.

Most reported cases are from people aged 65 years and older.

The continued increase in antiviral prescriptions, up 25 per cent in the past week, also reflects a significant number of infections in the community according to the report.

Prof Sutton said hospitalisations are now seen as a better indicator of disease activity than cases.

His report said Victoria’s wastewater surveillance and clinical genomic testing program continue to track emerging subvariants.

“Omicron subvariants BQ. 1 and XBB are driving case and hospitalisation increases overseas due to their ability to escape immunity from past infection and waning immunity from past vaccination,” the report states.

Multiple Omicron subvariants are present in Victoria — with rapid growth of BQ. 1 and XXB in the past month. Picture: Graham Denholm.

“Multiple Omicron subvariants are present in Victoria and there is continued, rapid growth of BQ. 1 and XBB in the past month.

“Continued growth at these rates would see these subvariants become the dominant subvariants in Victoria. BA. 5 is still the dominant subvariant in Victoria but is being detected at declining levels.”

Reported cases of the virus in Victoria have also jumped by 20 per cent, with 10,226 cases recorded compared to 8,537 this time last week.

The daily average of new cases this week was 1,461.

A total of 24 Covid-related deaths were recorded in the past week.