2.0 Current Epidemiological Situation

Strategic monitoring of epidemiological shifts is fundamental to an effective public health response. Tracking these trends allows for the anticipation of changes in healthcare demand and the proactive allocation of resources, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children.

International data from partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States, provide context for the trends we are now observing domestically. These global indicators suggest a pattern of a slow-moving summer wave of COVID-19, with a notable increase in test positivity rates and emergency department (ED) visits among children and the elderly.

Analysis of paediatric trends reveals a significant impact on frontline healthcare services. In the United States, a key international partner, paediatric ED visits increased by 15.2% during August 2025, with the 0-4 age group disproportionately affected. While these figures warrant close monitoring of primary and emergency care capacity, corresponding data from both the US and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicate that hospitalisation and mortality rates remain low, suggesting the current variants are not driving an increase in severe disease outcomes or straining tertiary care capacity. These epidemiological shifts are driven by the new variants, necessitating a detailed clinical understanding of their presentation.