New South Wales COVID-19 cases are rising, which experts believe is due to a new subvariant of Omicron called BA.2.

Infectious diseases expert ANU Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake says the variant is 25 to 30 per cent more transmissible than Omicron.

"But in terms of severity, it does not seem to be more severe, and in terms of its response to vaccines and its ability to evade vaccines, it doesn't seem any more different than Omicron," he said.

State and territory leaders at cabinet today will discuss Australia’s ability to handle a COVID-19 wave this winter, in addition to what is expected to be the worst flu season in three years.

Experts believe cases in the state could double in the next four to six weeks as a result of the BA.2 variant and current restrictions in place.

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