Brad Hazzard says NSW COVID-19 figures could double as Omicron sub-variant BA.2 emerges

Authorities are concerned at the spread of an Omicron sub-variant of COVID-19, which is believed to be driving rising case numbers in NSW. Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Thursday told a NSW budget estimates hearing the BA.2 sub-variant, thought to be more infectious than the BA.1 lineage, was becoming the dominant Omicron offshoot. Mr Hazzard said preliminary data from the University of NSW indicated cases could 'more than double' within six weeks. 'It's very preliminary and we need to do a lot more digging ... but we are concerned at this point that BA.2 is amongst us and overtaking BA1,' he said.