Covid reinfection period reduced from 12 weeks to four amid new subvariants

Covid cases have continued to climb in the NT, with experts saying the peak of the third wave is soon.

THE reinfection period in the Northern Territory has been shortened from 12 weeks to four after advice from a peak federal health body.

That means Territorians will need to re-test for Covid-19 if they experience any symptoms, just 28 days after a previous infection.

It comes as two new subvariants of Omicron – BA4 and BA5 – drive a spike in new Covid-19 cases within the Territory.

There were 494 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, taking the current active case total to 2760.

Acting chief health officer Dr Charles Pain said Covid-19 cases were expected to peak next week. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Health experts recent urged anyone over 50 to get their third and fourth doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, as a first line of defence against the new subvariants.

Anyone over 30 can access a fourth dose of the jab.

Colds, flu, Covid: Health experts explain differences and what do to when sick

Acting chief health officer Dr Charles Pain said cases in the Territory had been “steadily increasing” in the last few weeks.

“We are now seeing a rise in hospital admissions in the Top End Region, particularly at Royal Darwin Hospital this week,” Dr Pain said.

“There are a number of people getting sick enough to need hospital care, and while our hospitals have plans in place to manage this it is important we do our best to avoid getting Covid and increasing hospital admissions.

“We are expecting the third COVID-19 wave in the NT to peak in the next week, before case numbers begin to fall slowly again.”

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