Premier Steven Marshall says it will take ‘weeks’ to understand new Covid variant

Two confirmed cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19 could put future quarantine-free international travel at risk, the Premier warns.

Future quarantine-free international travel to and from Australia is at risk as authorities grapple with the implications of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19, after two cases of the fast-moving variant were confirmed in NSW on Sunday.

Premier Steven Marshall said the expectation that South Australia would abolish quarantine for international arrivals when the state hit a double vaccination rate of 90 per cent was not certain, even though he still expected to hit that mark by the end of the year.

Mr Marshall has already raised the requirement for international visitors to be held in quarantine from seven to 14 days due to Omicron, but the original plan was to abolish the requirement once the state hit the 90 per cent fully vaccinated mark. This will now be reviewed.

“We are concerned at this stage, we’re still trying to work out exactly and precisely what is going to occur from this new variant,’’ Mr Marshall said Sunday.

“I think we need a few more weeks to understand the Omicron variant.

“We need to understand how current levels of vaccination will protect us. We also need to know what the symptoms are likely to be from this new variant. At the moment we know it is highly transmissible, but we don’t have much more information beyond that.’’

Interstate travellers now also have to show proof of a negative Covid test.

Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has refused to rule out tougher international travel restrictions as more becomes known about Omicron.

Australia has effectively shut its borders to nine countries in the southern African region in a bid to curb the spread of the new variant.

And while the federal government is not looking to close international borders entirely,

Mr Tehan would not rule out imposing more restrictions if Australia’s top medical experts advised it.

Late on Sunday afternoon, NSW Health confirmed two travellers who arrived from southern Africa on November 27 had tested positive to the Omicron strain The authority said the two cases were fully vaccinated, asymptomatic and were now in isolation in “special health accommodation’’.

A further 12 passengers from southern Africa were also in isolation.

Two cases of Omicron were also reported in the UK, prompting Prime Minister Boris Johnson to reintroduce compulsory mask wearing in shops and on public transport.

The UK has also banned flights from 10 southern African nations.

Omicron has also been detected across several European countries, while Israel has closed its borders to all foreign nationals.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for calm after the new Covid strain moved from a variant of investigation to a variant of concern in 24 hours.

He spoke with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Saturday and said he backed their move to introduce a 72-hour isolation period for people arriving from overseas.

“This clearly demonstrates that the pandemic is not over,” he said.

“The best thing that we can do is get vaccinated and get booster shots. But our

intention, let’s not forget what the ultimate objective is here in this global pandemic, is to open safely and remain safely open.’’

He said Australia would continue to be “guided by the best possible medical evidence and medical expert advice”.

Meanwhile, Mr Marshall also had a swipe at WA premier Mark McGowan who announced fully vaccinated SA travellers must quarantine for 14 days with immediate effect.

“I know there’ll be so many people that are disappointed with this decision from Premier Mark McGowan because they were hoping to reunite with family, friends over the Christmas period. That’s now not going to be possible.’’

Mr Marshall said he was concerned Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory could follow WA’s lead.