NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has urged the community to resume wearing masks indoors in public settings following a “new wave” of COVID-19 across the state.

Chant said the new wave is being driven by the new Omicron BA.4 and 5 variants, with the peak set to hit around late July and early August.

Chant said experts are predicting hospitalisations will be similar to the BA1 Omicron wave experienced in January.

“I am concerned about this picture, and I’m calling on the community to do a few things to protect yourself and each other. It’s essential you stay up to date with your vaccinations,” she said.

“Please wear a mask indoors, in public transport, in pharmacies and in shops. We all have a part to play.”

Chant said hospitalisations will likely be worse this time around compared to January, due to the rise of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

“Just because your RAT test is negative, still do not go out and about,” she said.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also defined those who haven’t had a third dose of COVID vaccine as “crazy”.

Hazzard also expressed his desire for antivirals to become commonplace in the future.

He said he was “hopeful” the federal body would do what was required to make antivirals more accessible to a broader age group.

“I understand there may be some challenges in the formalities and I’m hopeful that may be curtailed or at least circumvented,” he said.

“We’re having discussions with the federal government about those issues at the present time. So hopefully we’ll see some announcements on that in the near course.”