Live updates
By Jon Healy
Omicron ‘must already be here in Australia’
A COVID-positive traveler arrived in the Northern Territory just yesterday, so it is entirely possible that we may have our first (or second or third, etc.) case of Omicron in the country.
This is why, despite high vaccination rates in Australia, experts warn against complacency.
“There has been talk of downsizing contact tracing – it’s not a good idea,” said epidemiologist Alexandra Martiniuk, University of Sydney.
“We should continue with QR code check-in, masking, especially while trying to understand Omicron, because it might already be here in Australia.”
The Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer both said yesterday that we have not confirmed an Omicron case yet, but finding the genomic sequence takes longer than figuring out if anyone is positive or not.
By Jon Healy
A few press conference times for you
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese will speak with former opposition leader Bill Shorten, 10.10 AEDT.
Health Secretary Greg Hunt will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. AEDT. It is not the same format as yesterday, but we naturally expect him to address the situation regarding the Omicron variant at some point.
By Jon Healy
Skips Greek letters
Good morning Jon,
I’m curious about Omicron’s nomenclature. Did we skip Epsilon or does it already exist? I assumed we would name the variants in alphabetical order.-Sally
HOWEVER, we skipped two letters – Now and Xi. I’ll let you find out why that could have been it.
By Jon Healy
hi i know it may be a stretch but with all the disturbing news can we please reinstate the day of the dinosaurs? some dinosaur gifs would be much appreciated here!
– Law
A few things:
1. Of course. Here you go.
2. Was dinosaur day a thing? I think some of you all read this blog more than some of us bloggers.
And 3. This comment was posted five times and we’ve had a lot of other double-ups and triple-ups already today. So maybe if you get an error message after your comment, do not press send again because they come through a whole mess of times.
By Jon Healy
The UK and Germany confirm the first Omicron cases
In addition to Omicron cases detected in the UK and Germany, the Czech Republic is investigating probable infections, while cases of the new variant have also been reported in travelers in Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong.
Britain’s health minister confirmed the country’s first cases on Saturday, saying both were linked to travel to southern Africa.
Germany’s case was identified in the southern state of Bavaria after two travelers entered Munich airport before the country designated South Africa as a virus-variant area.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new measures to curb the spread of Omicron, including PCR tests for travelers and tighter mask requirements.
By Jon Healy
Changes to SA’s limit requirements apply
Tomorrow boys. I have seen several posts on social media from SA Police change their access requirements to intergovernmental. Are you able to give us a wrap of what has changed as it has made some of us confused?
-What has changed SA?
We’ve had a few stories about this, but I’ll summarize it.
As of today, travelers from low- and moderate-risk LGAs like Melbourne and Sydney must have a negative COVID-19 test result 72 hours before entering SA.
Close contacts of persons who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last seven days are not allowed to enter the state.
Previously, they only had to have one test, but not wait for a negative result.
By Jon Healy
Good morning Jon. Am I the first
– Natty
Thanks to some re-entries, you’re first, second and third, Natty.
By Jon Healy
Yesterday’s blog link
By Jon Healy
NSW and Victoria reintroduce quarantine rules for international arrivals
With the Omicron coronavirus variant first reported in southern Africa, the federal government announced that people arriving from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi and the Seychelles to any Australian state or territory would should go into 14 days’ supervised quarantine.
And so last night, New South Wales and Victoria announced that all vaccinated travelers from all other countries would be required to isolate themselves for 72 hours upon arrival in those states.
It comes less than a month after the quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated international arrivals were eased in NSW, Victoria and ACT.
By Jon Healy
It’s Sunday and time for another COVID blog
Another day of monitoring Omicron updates is ahead of us, so let’s not mess around.
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