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NSW Health confirms two more Omicron COVID-19 cases in travellers from southern Africa
www.abc.net.au
Genomic testing has confirmed another two cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant from passengers who arrived in Sydney from southern Africa last night.
NSW Health said they were fully vaccinated and isolating in the special health accommodation (SHA).
Everyone on the flight is considered a close contact and will need to get tested immediately for COVID-19 and isolate for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
There are now five confirmed cases of the World Health Organization's new "variant of concern" in Australia, as scientists around the world try to determine whether it is more infectious than other strains of COVID and more resistant to vaccines.
Yesterday, two travellers from southern Africa who landed in Sydney on Saturday night became the first confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Australia.
The pair, who arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, were placed in the SHA.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said both people were fully vaccinated and asymptomatic.
He had boarded a repatriation flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The territory's health authorities said they were "not overly concerned" about the case and travellers were in a "completely separate area" from interstate travellers.
The Omicron variant has triggered dozens of countries to close their borders to South Africa, where it was first recorded.
Catch up on the main COVID-19 news from November 29 with a look back at our blog
The federal government joined the international community in restricting travel to non-Australian citizens from these countries on Saturday.
After a new COVID-19 variant emerged in southern Africa, scientists, health officials and the public are concerned, and the World Health Organization is monitoring the situation closely. Here is what we know.
Read more
NSW introduced new rules that meant those still permitted to arrive in Australia must isolate in a health facility for 14 days.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said 141 people from nine southern African countries impacted by the variant — South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi — had arrived in NSW over the past 24 hours.
The Commonwealth said that in light of so far very limited data on the new variant there were "heartening signs" about Omicron.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said evidence pointed to the new variant having milder symptoms than other strains, but conceded this may change in the coming weeks.
"As we approach Christmas, know that out of all of the countries in the world, Australia is as well prepared as anybody," Mr Hunt said.
www.abc.net.au
Genomic testing has confirmed another two cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant from passengers who arrived in Sydney from southern Africa last night.
Key points:
- There are now four Omicron cases in NSW and one in the Northern Territory
- The latest Omicron cases were fully vaccinated
- Border restrictions for people from nine southern African countries remain in place
NSW Health said they were fully vaccinated and isolating in the special health accommodation (SHA).
Everyone on the flight is considered a close contact and will need to get tested immediately for COVID-19 and isolate for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
There are now five confirmed cases of the World Health Organization's new "variant of concern" in Australia, as scientists around the world try to determine whether it is more infectious than other strains of COVID and more resistant to vaccines.
Yesterday, two travellers from southern Africa who landed in Sydney on Saturday night became the first confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Australia.
The pair, who arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, were placed in the SHA.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said both people were fully vaccinated and asymptomatic.
Read more about the Omicron variant:
- What we know about the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron
- Will Omicron spread like Delta?
- Here's what happened over the weekend as the world reacted to the new variant
He had boarded a repatriation flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The territory's health authorities said they were "not overly concerned" about the case and travellers were in a "completely separate area" from interstate travellers.
The Omicron variant has triggered dozens of countries to close their borders to South Africa, where it was first recorded.
Catch up on the main COVID-19 news from November 29 with a look back at our blog
The federal government joined the international community in restricting travel to non-Australian citizens from these countries on Saturday.
New COVID-19 variant explained
After a new COVID-19 variant emerged in southern Africa, scientists, health officials and the public are concerned, and the World Health Organization is monitoring the situation closely. Here is what we know.
Read more
NSW introduced new rules that meant those still permitted to arrive in Australia must isolate in a health facility for 14 days.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said 141 people from nine southern African countries impacted by the variant — South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi — had arrived in NSW over the past 24 hours.
The Commonwealth said that in light of so far very limited data on the new variant there were "heartening signs" about Omicron.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said evidence pointed to the new variant having milder symptoms than other strains, but conceded this may change in the coming weeks.
"As we approach Christmas, know that out of all of the countries in the world, Australia is as well prepared as anybody," Mr Hunt said.
