Expert’s Covid warning as NSW schools reopen

An infectious disease expert has issued a bleak warning as students return to school amid a surge in Omicron cases.

As students head back to school in New South Wales this week, infectious disease expert Dr Robert Booy warns there may be an increase of children hospitalised with the Omicron variant over the next two weeks.

The prediction is worrying for Sydney’s children’s hospitals, whose staff are already under immense pressure after the latest Omicron surge. The hospitals have been struggling with staffing levels as many have been forced into isolation.

A member of the a children’s hospital’s paediatric department told news.com.au many staff had picked up extra shifts with some health professionals — without paediatric expereince — redeployed from other departments to assist with hospitalised kids.

An infectious disease expert warns there may be an increase of children hospitalised with Omicron over the next two weeks. Picture: iStock

An increase in cases could put further strain on the system as hospitals prepare to resume non-urgent elective surgery.

“Elective surgery is a funny term because it actually includes a lot of people who are in severe chronic pain,” Dr Booy told news.com.au.

“Once we finally get to them, the waiting list is even longer and people who needed elective surgery will soon need urgent surgery.”

Despite the increase, The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network said it was adequately prepared to meet the needs of patients and families. Sixty-one new graduate nurses will be commencing across the Randwick and Westmead hospitals this week.

This couldn’t come at a better time, as patient wait times at Sydney Children’s hospital increased in 2020-21. The average time 90 per cent of patients were seen was within two hours according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

An increase hospitalisations could be troublesome as hospital wait ties increase. Picture: iStock.

Yet as students went back to the classroom this week, many teachers were impressed with how well the students followed social distancing and mask restrictions. Cumberland High School Year 7 year advisor Locklen Kwan, felt there was a great response from the kids and they were happy to be back.

“The children showed maturity in following all the procedures … It is uncomfortable for them to wear masks, especially on a day as hot as yesterday, but I think they’re just ecstatic to be able to come into high school for face-to-face teaching.”

Dr Booy predicts social distancing and mask mandates in schools will make all the difference.

“Hospitals need to hold out for another few weeks. Doctors working double shifts and missing holidays will end and things will hopefully be getting back to normal in March,” he said.