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Virus cases in post-Christmas decline

As Australians settle back into routine following the Christmas holidays, the number of positive Covid-19 cases has dramatically declined. NSW Health data for the first week of 2023 shows a 33% decrease on the previous seven days, with 15,364 new positive tests.

The figures also reveal the number of people receiving PCR tests decreased 11%.

NSW’s acting chief health officer, Dr Jan Fizzell, said:

Key indicators show the number of Covid-19 cases in NSW are continuing to decline as expected. Flu activity is at low levels in NSW but there [are] signs activity is increasing.

According to NSW Health, there is still a “highly mixed” group of sub-variants circulating within the community, with BR.2 the most common.

The national average for daily positive tests as of January 3 was 23.3% lower than the week before, with significant reductions in almost every state and territory. The Northern Territory was an exception, with a 2% bump in the first official daily case statistics for the year.

On Christmas Day, the average number of daily cases nationally was 13,742, compared with 8,950 on January 3, the most recent date for which national figures are available.

While new cases are down, the number of people admitted to hospital and intensive care with the virus remains high and actually recorded a small increase. Over 3,500 people were hospitalised in the seven days leading up to January 3 and 120 were sent to intensive care, respective increases of 2% and 11% on the week before.

Also this week, a study by Israeli researchers found most people affected by long Covid showed no symptoms after a year. The study by KI Research Institute – published in medical journal BMJ – suggests patients with mild Covid-19 have an increased risk for a small number of health outcomes, most of which resolve within a year from diagnosis.

– AAP