A sub-lineage of the Omicron variant, known as BA.2, is suspected of being between 25-30 per cent more infectious than its predecessor and is quickly becoming the dominant infection in Australia.

Melbourne University epidemiologist James McCaw, a member of the Australian Health Protection Committee that advises the federal government, said it was inevitable there would be a second Omicron wave in Australia, with early signs suggesting it had already started in the country’s eastern states.

“I expect there to be a steady rise of infections over the coming months,” he said.

“BA.2 doesn’t seem to have a different severity profile, but it looks to be an intrinsically more transmissible virus, and we expect it to continue to drive up transmission.”

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