HEALTH authorities are bracing for a surge in the number of new COVID-19 infections as wastewater detections increase across the state.
Swan Hill District Health acting chief executive Chloe Keogh said high levels of the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants also had been detected in wastewater across the Loddon Mallee region.
“Epidemiology in the past has shown that once there are high levels in wastewater we’re in for a surge,” she said.
“And I would be anticipating that that will be coming.”
There have been about 140 active cases in Swan Hill this week, which is higher than at this time last month but lower than some weeks in January, February, March and April, when there were more than 200 active cases.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas on Tuesday said there had been a 53 per cent increase in the number of Victorians in hospital with COVID-19 in the past two weeks and the Omicron third wave was expected to peak next month.
There’s also been a rise in other respiratory illnesses such as colds and flu which is putting additional pressure on hospitals and healthcare services.
Ms Keogh said the Swan Hill health service had averaged about 15 staff a day off work during the past three months because of exposure to COVID-19.
Staff shortages were yet to affect elective surgery but lists were being carefully managed.
“We’ve got staff who are tired, who are coming in overnight to do emergency theatre work, to help protect and look after the community,” she said.
“If elective surgery cases get cancelled, that’s because we’ve said everyone’s too tired or there are too many staff who are off and we can’t do it safely.
“In previous waves, we have reduced or at times ceased our elective surgery.”
Ms Keogh said there had been higher than usual numbers of people with the flu, but no outbreaks in any of the hospital’s aged care or other facilities.
The hospital vaccination clinic will not be reopened to cater for an expected rise in the number of people seeking jabs now that second boosters have been recommended for people aged over 50.
“We are encouraging people to get the fourth winter dose booster through either their GP clinic or their pharmacist,” she said.
“We will run some public pop up clinics, and we’ll advertise them closer to the time on our Facebook page.”
Experts are warning that people who had already been infected with COVID twice might be infected multiple times this year.
“The subvariants are highly contagious – they’re saying 19 times more contagious,” Ms Keogh said.
“So whilst our numbers might be modest at the moment, if it’s more contagious then more people will get it.”
She urged people to work together and continue using common sense approaches to preventing the spread of COVID-19, such as hand washing, wearing masks, distancing, and staying at home when unwell.
