NSW Health is reminding customers to keep practising COVID-safe behaviours, as COVID-19 remains at high levels across the state.
The latest NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report for the fortnight ending 06 Jan 2024 indicated that COVID-19 transmission in NSW is currently at a higher level than during last year's winter peak, while in the greater Sydney area, it is approaching levels not seen since Dec 2022.
Emergency department presentations for COVID-19 remain high although the proportion of presentations requiring admission to hospital has been declining, suggesting while there has been an increase in cases there has been no increase in the severity of the disease.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged pharmacists to remind customers to keep practising COVID-safe behaviours to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
"Currently, the Omicron variants EG.5 and JN.1 appear to be driving the majority of transmission in the community, with JN.1 increasing in prevalence, in line with what we have seen in other countries," Chant said.
"While there is no evidence to suggest these variants cause more severe disease the overall increase in case numbers puts vulnerable people at risk from COVID-19."
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