Professor Paul Kelly, Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, released a statement (8/11/22) on the increase in COVID-19 cases due to a new Omicron variant.
The statement noted that Omicron variant XBB was being transmitted in the community and that a second Omicron variant – BQ.1, was also being closely monitored.
Details on the presence of these variants in Queensland is included below:
XBB and BQ.1 (including subvariants BQ.1.1 and BQ.1.2) continue to trend upwards in the southeast corner of Queensland (Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast).
XBB, XBC and BQ.1 (including subvariants) accounted for 8 per cent of the weekly total identified COVID lineages, for the week beginning 24/10/2022.