Australia Confirms Two Cases Of Omicron COVID-19 Variant

Two people who arrived from southern Africa over the weekend tested positive for the Omicron coronavirus type on Sunday, according to Australia.

Both passengers arrived in Sydney on Saturday evening and tested positive for COVID-19 late that night, according to the New South Wales health department.

Over the weekend, Australia joined the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy in finding Omicron cases, while more countries enforced travel restrictions from southern Africa.

NSW Health stated, “Both people were asymptomatic, completely vaccinated, and in quarantine.”

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“An additional 12 passengers from Southern Africa were placed in a 14-day hotel quarantine, while 260 other passengers and crew members were ordered to isolate.”

The health agency stated, “Close contacts will be called on a regular basis, and compliance checks will be conducted.”

On Saturday, Australia put further restrictions on persons who had visited nine southern African countries, as the highly contagious variety raises fears of a new pandemic wave.

South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi, and Mozambique are the countries involved.

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New Zealand has announced new restrictions that will take effect on Sunday evening.

For the first time during the epidemic, Australia loosened international border restrictions early this month, enabling fully vaccinated residents to return to the country without quarantine after increased vaccination levels.