Two returned travellers from southern Africa test positive to Omicron Covid variant in NSW

Genomic sequencing on two returned travellers has confirmed the new Covid-19 variant Omicron has officially reached Australian shores.

Genomic testing has confirmed two overseas travellers who returned to Sydney on Saturday have been infected with the new Omicron Covid-19 variant of concern.

NSW Health in a statement confirmed the development on Sunday afternoon after earlier noting the two passengers had undergone testing upon arrival and returned positive results for Covid-19.

Both passengers arrived in Sydney from southern Africa on Saturday night.

The two positive cases, who were asymptomatic, were in isolation in the Special Health Accommodation – Both were fully vaccinated.

The two passengers were among 14 people from southern Africa who arrived on Qatar Airways QR908 flight, Doha to Sydney, which touched down about 7pm.

The remaining 12 passengers from southern Africa are undertaking 14 days of hotel quarantine in the Special Health Accommodation.

Around 260 passengers and aircrew on the flight are considered close contacts and have been directed to isolate. 

Scott Morrison earlier on Sunday avoided making a kneejerk decision on Australia’s border, maintaining there were “too many unknowns” about the Omicron variant.

The emergence of the new variant has led to dozens of countries closing their borders and placing restrictions on multiple southern African countries, with Australia last night closing its border entirely to several destinations.

Australian now joins Britain, Germany, South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel will confirmed infections of Omicron.

The Prime Minister on Sunday called the new variant “concerning”, but said there were still too many questions about it to prompt rash decisions.

“We’ve always said there will be new variants. This is the nature of the pandemic — Australia is in the strongest position as we possibly can be to deal with these sorts of issues,” he said.

Scott Morrison says Australia is well-placed to deal with the new variant.

“This is not like it was back in February and March of 2020 — we now have good knowledge, good advice, the uncertainties are not like they used to be, we have good systems.”

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard emphasised that Omicron was still not well understood.

But he said keeping tabs on returning travellers from the countries of concern presented challenges, noting that the Delta variant took three weeks to sweep across 53 countries.

“We have to expect that Omicron may well already be here,” Mr Hazzard said.

Authorities are working to determine if the infected travellers have the Omicron variant.

Preliminary evidence suggests Omicron can spread rapidly, including between people who are double-vaccinated, and scientists are determining if the new variant can reduce the protection of vaccines.

But Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has downplayed the severity of the new strain.

He said preliminary evidence, subject to emerging details, suggested there were no signs the strain was a “more dangerous disease” in terms of its impact on hospitalisation, serious illness or loss of life.

Mr Hunt also said there were no signs as yet that the strain was resistant to Covid-19 vaccines.

“But constant updating of medical advice has been what we’ve done throughout the pandemic and will continue to do,” he told reporters on Sunday morning.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia was in a good position to fight the new variant.

Australia swiftly moved to close its borders to a number of African countries overnight, after dozens of other countries imposed travel rules on southern Africa.

All international arrivals into Victoria and NSW regardless of their origin must now quarantine for 72 hours.

Australia has already enforced border restrictions amid the spread of the variant globally.

Meanwhile, Northern Territory authorities have been waiting on test results for a confirmed Covid case to rule out the new variant.

About 20 travellers believed to have travelled from South Africa were repatriated last week and are currently quarantining at Howard Springs.

One person has so far tested positive.

Authorities at home are attempting to track down at least 100 Australians who recently arrived home from the nine African nations without quarantine.

Those people will need to be tested, and quarantine immediately for 14 days.

Australia chief medical officer Paul Kelly will update state and territory counterparts daily.

Originally published as Two returned travellers from southern Africa test positive to Omicron Covid variant in NSW