Clare Armstrong: Everything we have done is to prepare for this moment

We have taken every step to be ready in the fight against the Omicron Covid-19 variant, which has now arrived in Australia, writes Clare Armstrong.

Australians may only have learned the name “omicron” a few days ago, but everything they have done – every sacrifice made – during the Covid-19 pandemic so far has been in preparation for its arrival.

The development of testing and tracing systems, check-in apps, the vaccine rollout, immunisation certificates, hospital preparedness and aged care infection control measures – bolstered and improved with each failure – is why Australians need not fear this latest variant of concern.

Despite having more than 30 mutations in its spike protein, early accounts of its high virility and instances of “break through” infections in double-vaccinated people, the omicron strain calls for only one response: staying the course.

Australia has announced new measures for incoming travellers in response to the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

That is not to say experts and health officials be ignored, rather their calls to look beyond higher numbers of mild or asymptotic cases among the fully vaccinated to focus instead on hospitalisations and severe illness finally be embraced.

Each time Australia brought a new wave of a Covid-19 to heel sparked fresh talk of how the country must now, surely, “live with the virus”.

But as Melbourne learned first, then the Northern Beaches, south west Sydney, all of NSW, Victoria again, the ACT and most recently the Northern Territory, this talk was premature.

Things are different this time.

Australia’s vaccine rate is almost unparalleled and for all its mutations, there is no data suggesting omicron is able to circumvent those little vials of scientific marvel.

Snap border closures, singling out travellers from a handful of countries and the dreaded “uncertainty” – it’s a familiar pattern Australians were promised would end with vaccination.

In exchange for rolling up their sleeves, Australians were offered freedom.

It’s now up to leaders to hold up their end of the deal.

International students, migrant workers and visa holders due to return from December 1 must be permitted to enter the country, and states must continue with the reopening of their borders as planned later in the month.

For all the missed class room time, postponed celebrations, cancelled events, lost jobs and heartbreak of birthdays, weddings and funerals via-video only, Australians are owed a chance to prove they can live with omicron, and whatever variant comes after that.