Omicron COVID-19 variant now in Darwin, Queensland ‘monitoring developments’

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The new COVID-19 ‘variant of concern’ is now in two Australian states and territories, with the Northern Territory confirming a case in a traveller from South Africa.

New South Wales also has two people in quarantine with the Omicron strain.

Northern Territory Health Minister Natasha Fyles said there is no risk to the community from its case because the carrier, a man in his 30s, is in the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

The man had flown into Darwin from Johannesburg last Thursday.

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“That genomic sequencing has shown that the man does have the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the first case for the Northern Territory,” she said.

“The quarantine facility itself is broken into different zones so our international repatriations don’t interact with our local community members – Territorians who may be in the facility.”

Acting NT Chief Health Officer Dr Charles Pain said everyone who had been on that flight is now quarantining.

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“This individual and the whole cohort of people - because they were on a repatriation flight - are in quarantine.”

A further two people who arrived in Sydney from South Africa last night and have returned positive COVID-19 results are also being tested for the Omicron variant, while the results of genomic sequencing for another person who arrived last Thursday are expected later today.

There have been no positive cases of the Omicron variant in Queensland and Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the state’s border re-opening plan remains unchanged for now.

“Our health officials are monitoring developments around the country and around the world and continue to provide advice," he said.

"Nothing has changed at this stage but people should be assured that we’ll continue to take a cautious, well-prepared approach."

The National Security Committee is also meeting to discuss the Omicron variant today.

Chief Health officer Professor Paul Kelly said early evidence suggests it’s highly transmissible, but more needs to be known about how it impacts health and how effective current vaccines are against it.

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“Some reports out of South Africa are that it’s mostly mild, other information we have is that hospitalisation rates are increasing so we have to get further information there.

“(The cases in New South Wales are) both young people, both from South Africa, both fully vaccinated, both asymptomatic.

“We need to see whether that is the characteristic of this virus, of course if it is that’s very reassuring but of course it’s too early to say that.”

He said there is no current definitive evidence that current vaccines are less effective against Omicron, but makers Moderna and Pfizer are ready to create a specific vaccine if required.

The Federal Government’s contracts with the pharmaceutical companies include vaccine changes.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has also been asked to review whether booster timeframes need change.