This is the best summary I could come up with:

Covid-19 infections in the greater Sydney area are approaching levels not seen since December 2022 as the JN.1 variant continues to drive cases throughout Australia, but hospital presentations and admissions have reduced since late 2023.

The latest New South Wales Covid surveillance data published on Thursday shows that in the fortnight ending 6 January, community transmission of the virus was at a higher level than during the 2023 winter peak.

The NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said there was also no evidence that the two strains driving cases, EG.5 and JN.1, cause more severe disease.

In Queensland, the chief health officer, Dr John Gerrard, said the unseasonal surge in respiratory infections had continued across that state in early 2024.

The current average in Victoria is the highest in recent months, but remains below the peak in May and June 2023, and deaths have decreased.

On Tuesday the federal health minister, Mark Butler, said the cases throughout Australia were “not surprising really, given the degree to which people come together over the Christmas and New Year period to celebrate the festive season”.

The original article contains 509 words, the summary contains 183 words. Saved 64%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!