The Latest Breaking News from Adrian Esterman

Federal health data shows 4,547 people have died of Covid-19 this year to date, compared with 2,239 over 2020 and 2021

According to the latest federal health data, there are almost half a million known active cases in Australia — but epidemiologists believe they may be the tip of the iceberg, and the true number could be at least double that.

Experts say almost everyone is set to be infected by the new strain thanks to how easily it seems to spread

Professor Adrian Esterman, a former WHO epidemiologist, said the sub-variant is more transmissible than Omicron

Professor Adrian Esterman, a former WHO epidemiologist, said the sub-variant is more transmissible than Omicron

SA will return to its most relaxed COVID rules in nearly two years this weekend. So what is changing, and what rules will remain?

Epidemiologist Adrian Esterman says BA.2 is about 40 per cent more contagious than the original Omicron strain, with a similar transmissibility to the highly-contagious measles.

As Western Australians wonder how the state's eventual border reopening might unfold, pundits often draw on the South Australian experience. But how comparable are the states and what bearing did SA have on Premier Mark McGowan's call to indefinitely delay the border opening?

An economist who has been analysing COVID-19 statistics since the start of the pandemic believes the latest Omicron strain may mark its end in highly vaccinated countries, but local epidemiologists warn COVID-19 could still have some nasty surprises.