Influenza activity continues to increase rapidly, particularly in children. COVID-19 and RSV activity remain at moderate to high levels, with relatively stable notification rates.
Influenza notifications, emergency department (ED) presentations and test positivity (10.6%) have all significantly increased this week. Notification rates are highest in children aged 3-16 years and rates in 1–2-year-olds have increased this week (Figure 7).
COVID-19 and RSV activity in NSW persists at elevated levels however both have stabilised in recent weeks. Indicators which are not influenced by the amount of testing for COVID-19, including sewage and healthcare worker furloughing, continue to show moderate to high levels of COVID-19 transmission in the community. Healthcare worker furloughing is showing signs of a gradual decline over the past two weeks.
While COVID-19 continues to dominate respiratory virus notifications (12,164 people diagnosed this week), there was a small decline of 5.4% since the previous week. There were 1,617 people diagnosed with RSV this week and while presentations to EDs remain high, particularly in young children, the proportion requiring admission is stable. Influenza diagnoses increased by 38.5% since the previous week (4,024 notifications).
The data source for this report updates as new information becomes available. Therefore, this report cannot be directly compared to previous versions of the NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report or to previous reporting periods. For additional information on the data sources and methods presented within this report please refer to COVID-19 surveillance report data sources and methodology.
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