With Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants circulating widely in Australia, cases of COVID-19 are rising and we're bracing for more.
Many health officials are predicting the latest peak will happen in the next few weeks and hospitals are already treating hundreds of people with the virus.
"There is enough evidence for how other countries have been affected by the BA.4 and BA.5 variants for us to take it as a given that cases are going to surge," Hassan Vally, an associate professor of epidemiology at Deakin University, says.
At the beginning of the pandemic, our attention was fixed on the number of new cases each day.
But as vaccination rates increased, the focus shifted to "living with the virus" with leaders emphasising the importance of hospitalisation rates as a key measure of how we were coping with the disease.
Here's how hospitalisation rates are tracking across the country.
How many people are in hospital in Australia with COVID-19?
Currently, 4,477 COVID patients are in hospitals across the country, according to national figures reported on Wednesday.
Of those, 137 are in intensive care units (ICU) and 33 require a ventilator.
Australia's COVID hospitalisation rates have spiked back to February levels.
This table shows the number of COVID-19 cases currently in hospital, including cases in ICU, broken down by state and territory.
Click the links below to jump straight to your state or territory:
ACT's daily COVID-19 case numbers could triple by next month
Modelling suggests the ACT's COVID-19 case numbers may rise to 3,000 a day as the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants spread through the capital.
Daily case numbers are expected to peak in late July or early August, ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said on Monday.
"During this time we could be seeing more than 2,000 or even 3,000 cases a day just here in the ACT, and this is happening at a time that we are also seeing those other viruses in the community circulating."
Due to a current high demand for healthcare and high number of unwell staff, Canberra Health Services are calling for the community to consider their need to attend hospitals if not life-threatening
Here's what ACT reported today:
- 137 cases in hospital, five in ICU, and three on ventilators
- No new deaths
Omicron 'circulating widely' in NSW
The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants are "circulating widely" in the state, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said.
Here's what the state reported today:
- 2,001 patients in hospital, 56 of those in ICU and 16 requiring ventilation
- 36 further deaths
Influenza and COVID cases rise in the NT
Rising cases in the Northern Territory has exacerbated ongoing staff and bed shortages at hospitals.
Here's what the NT reported today:
- 55 patients in hospital, three of those in intensive care
- No new deaths
COVID-19 cases in Queensland hospitals likely to pass 1,000
The state is expected to need far more than 1,000 beds just for COVID-19 at the peak of the combined BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron wave, due in the next few weeks.
Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better with the virus wave set to hit its peak by the end of July or early August.
Here's what Queensland reported today:
- 863 cases in hospital, with 16 of those in ICU
- A further 18 deaths
BA.4, BA.5 subvariants make up majority of cases in South Australia
The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants now make up more than half of the COVID-19 infections recorded in South Australia.
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said just under 55 per cent of samples of COVID-19 infections taken last week were the Omicron variant, up from about a quarter the week before.
SA Health predicts hospitals will have an increase of COVID-related patients in three weeks' time after a peak of new cases.
Here's what the state reported today:
- 231 people with COVID in hospital, six of those in ICU and one requiring ventilation
- One further death
Tasmania's hospital wards battling COVID-19 outbreaks
While Tasmania's number may seem low in comparison to other states, this is the highest number of people with the virus in hospital the state has had since the start of the pandemic.
The Tasmanian stats include people simply in hospital with the virus, not necessarily that they’re being treated for the virus.
Here's what the state reported today:
- 125 cases in public hospitals, but only 35 of them being specifically for COVID
- Four patients in ICU
- One further death
Victorian COVID hospital admissions soar
COVID hospital admissions have soared almost 80 per cent during the past three weeks in the state.
Victoria’s number of patients being treated for COVID in the state's hospitals increased from 402 in mid-June to 771 cases, as of today's figures.
Here's what the state reported today:
- 771 cases in hospital, nine requiring ventilation
- 34 active and cleared cases in ICU
- 20 further deaths
WA braces for wave
Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said that "BA.4 and BA.5 are making up an increasing percentage of our cases, rising to more than 60 per cent of cases in the last week".
Here's what WA reported yesterday:
- 320 people in hospital, 10 of those in ICU
- Six further deaths
How many COVID cases have been confirmed, globally?
There are more than 556 million COVID cases worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University public health figures.
In Australia, more than 8.5 million COVID-19 cases to date have been reported by states and territories. Although, reported rates of COVID-19 are likely to underestimate true incidence in the community.
The number of active COVID-19 cases sits at 316,574 according to the federal Department of Health's July 13 figures.
This month, Australia passed the grim milestone of 10,000 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began, about 7,500 of those occurred in the first half of 2022.
With COVID cases rising, what's next?
In terms of responding, Professor Vally says we're in a much better position than we were earlier in the pandemic when we didn't have the level of population immunity that we have now.
More than 95 per cent of people aged 16 and over have had two vaccine doses, according to Tuesday's federal government statistics.
And more then 70 per cent those eligible for boosters have had three or more vaccine doses.
As of this week, more people who are at a higher risk of severe illness from the virus can access antiviral treatments.
But Professor Vally says this is not a time for complacency.
"We are facing a significant challenge as we confront winter and new variants that are more transmissible and able to evade immunity," he says.
"It's a time to be vigilant about wearing masks where they are mandated and also in any indoor environment where you are likely to be at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19.
"Make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations, for both COVID-19 and influenza."
Professor Vally also says people at a higher risk of illness should have a plan for accessing antivirals.
