New Omicron COVID sub-variant found in Melbourne wastewater
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The novel BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron form, which has already been recorded in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, has been discovered in Victorian wastewater.
A new COVID-19 sub-variant was discovered in Victorian wastewater, as the state recorded 35 more virus-related fatalities.
After samples were identified in a Tullamarine catchment north of Melbourne, Victorian health officials are monitoring the novel BA.4 or BA.5 Omicron form.
A limited number of COVID-19 cases in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Germany have recently tested positive for the sub-variant.
According to the World Health Organization, there are no known substantial epidemiological differences between the novel Omicron strain and the more prevalent BA.2 strain.
“There is no cause for alarm with the emergence of the new sub-variants,” stated WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti in a statement this week.
“We are not yet observing a major spike in cases, hospitalisations or deaths.”
Latest Covid19 News in Australia
On Saturday, almost 41,000 new infections were recorded in Australia, along with 35 deaths, seven of which were previously revealed fatalities by officials in Western Australia.
This comes on the heels of over 47,000 illnesses and 34 fatalities recorded across the country on Friday.
On Saturday, net hospital admissions increased by two dozen patients across the country, with seven more patients in intensive care.
According to the most recent numbers, 9,559 new cases have been reported in Victoria in the last 24 hours, with 13,601 new cases reported in New South Wales and 5,878 new cases reported in Queensland.
Overnight, 3,749 new infections were reported in South Australia; 6,314 instances of the virus were reported in Western Australia; 1,334 new cases were reported in Tasmania; 391 in the Northern Territory; and 856 in the Australian Capital Territory.
Thirty-five deaths were documented across the country, including eight in Victoria, 18 in New South Wales, one in both Queensland and South Australia, and seven historical deaths in Western Australia.
In Victoria, there are 403 COVID-19 patients in hospitals and 21 in intensive care units (ICU). There are now 1,491 COVID-19 patients in New South Wales hospitals, with 72 in ICU; 538 persons are in Queensland hospitals, with 22 in ICU.
South Australia reported 223 hospitalizations, with eight in ICU; Western Australia has 205 COVID patients currently in hospital, with eight in ICU; Tasmania has 48 patients with the virus, one in ICU; the Northern Territory has 28 patients, with one in ICU; and the ACT has 60 patients, with two in ICU.
