Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says there are continuing reinfections from the Omicron variant that are escaping immune responses bolstered by vaccinations.

"We are seeing reinfection, we know that Omicron, having had a previous dose of one of the other variants of COVID-19, did escape that immune protection from both a previous dose and from only two doses of vaccine," Professor Kelly told Sky News.

"Sub-variants of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 have now become the dominant strain in the UK (and are) growing particularly on the east coast of Australia."

But while the variants are more transmissible, there has not been any uptick in the severity of the disease.

"We will see reinfections over the coming weeks and months, unfortunately with that one, but what we're not seeing is a large increase in severe disease," Prof Kelly said.

"That's really due to the vaccine protection which can be boosted with a third and fourth dose."

Treatments and the availability of COVID-19 antivirals have also aided in the response to serious cases of the virus, Prof Kelly said.

Epidemiologists are also warning of a rise in reinfection and people developing severe bouts of the disease.

Deakin University epidemiology chairwoman Catherine Bennett said the broader community would be at greater risk of infection in weeks to come.

"We are seeing what we feared might happen, particularly the convergence of a troubling flu season after having had a couple of years of respite," she told Sky News on Thursday.

NSW health authorities said Omicron variants were likely to become the dominant virus strains in coming weeks, warning of a rise in infections even among those who have already had COVID-19.

Professor Bennett said each new variant would be more transmissible, making it more difficult for people to avoid catching the virus when out in public.

She said some people who received their booster early in the rollout may see their protection start to wane.

Only 70 per cent of the eligible population have received their booster.

"The message is, if you haven't had your booster, have it," Prof Bennett said.

"It's really important that people get tested early and are made aware whether they're candidates or not for antivirals, so that might help with high infection rates."

Victoria will lift some of its restrictions at midnight on Friday, with positive cases from Saturday able to drive a member of their household to or from education or work without leaving their vehicle.

Mandates for third vaccine doses will also be lifted for workers in education, food distribution and quarantine settings, with vaccine policies up to individual workplaces.

Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said while cases were rising in parts of the country, emergency pandemic measures across states and territories should be lifted.

"Australians really are asking their premiers and their chief ministers to let them get on with their lives," she told Sky News.

"We actually have to learn to live with this virus, and the way to learn to live with it is to allow people to make their decisions."

LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:

NSW: 9136 cases, 14 deaths, 1455 in hospital with 54 in ICU

Victoria: 7723 cases, 20 deaths, 412 in hospital with 27 in ICU

Tasmania: 1018 cases, one death, 47 in hospital with three in ICU

NT: 248 cases, no deaths, 13 in hospital with none in ICU

Queensland: 4520 new cases, six deaths, 522 in hospital with seven in ICU

ACT: 1038 new cases, no deaths, 99 in hospital, one in ICU

WA: 4749 cases, one death, 239 in hospital with eight in ICU

SA: 2311 cases, four deaths, 200 in hospital with 10 in ICU

Australian Associated Press