COVID-19, flu cases escalate in NSW
COVID-19 cases have rapidly increased in NSW.
NSW Health’s respiratory surveillance report has recorded a 22 per cent increase in COVID-19 cases and a 30 per cent increase in influenza.
There are currently 5220 COVID-19 cases in NSW for the week ending June 1, up from 4262 for the week ending May 25. In contrast, there were 2813 reported cases for the week ending May 11. The worst affected areas in NSW are western Sydney with 805 cases and south western Sydney with 691 cases.
Areas emerging as hot spots include south eastern Sydney (500 cases), Hunter New England (481 cases), Nepean Blue Mountains (298 cases), Sydney (300 cases) Central Coast (257 cases) and the Illawarra Shoalhaven (275 cases).
COVID-19 cases by local government area (week ending June 1, 2024)
The new COVID-19 strain includes the ‘FLiRT’ sublineages, including KP.2 and KP.3, which stem from JN.1, which dominated infections early this year.
Infectious diseases physician Professor Peter Collignon said you would expect to see a spike of COVID-19 cases in winter.
“I would expect the wave to last around six weeks,” he said. “My expectation is that it won’t go for the whole of winter.”
Prof. Collignon said as influenza and RSV spike during the colder months so would COVID-19.
He urged people to take basic measures such as staying home if unwell, wearing a mask if you need to go out, getting some fresh air and staying up to date with recommended vaccinations.
I just spent the last week sick with what I thought was COVID (my brother & niece got it a few days prior), but I’ve been negative on all the RATs I’ve done. Could be the flu instead, not sure.
Lots of cold sweating, fever shakes and discomfort. Not as severe as my previous interactions with COVID.
(Sydney NSW)
Could have been the RATs weren’t sensitive to that strain. Could have been a bad cold or mild flu.
Really, at this point it doesn’t matter. If youre sick isolate at home to get better and don’t spread it. Same as before covid but just stricter as more likely to spread.
We’ve been so sick and tested negative on rats too. But really sick. And for about 2 weeks. Mainly splitting headaches that painkillers can’t touch, coughing, chest congestion, fatigue, general shit feeling, no fever. It just keeps going though, get better for a day, then bedridden the next day.
My partner just got a chest xray today to check for pneumonia as their breath was rattling.
Thought it couldn’t be flu as no aching muscles or joints, no fever etc.
Just a super strong cold if that’s what it is? Either way, we all want to be healthy again
Two friends couldn’t come to bushcare today due to flu and COVID. I think about a third of the people I know are affected.