Victoria confirms first Omicron case in hotel quarantine

An international arrival in Melbourne has become the first person in Victoria to test positive for the Omicron variant.

Victorian health authorities fear they may have recorded the state’s first case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Victorian health authorities have recorded the state’s first case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

The Department of Health confirmed they had commenced genomic sequencing to test an infected overseas arrival in hotel quarantine on Tuesday.

Authorities officially confirmed the traveller was infected with the Omicron variant on Wednesday.

“Following whole genomic sequencing, the case in Hotel Quarantine reported yesterday has been confirmed as having the Omicron variant,” the department said.

Concerns are also growing over two additional “likely” Omicron cases recently detected in the Victorian community.

“Two cases have returned results with S gene dropout – a signature of the Omicron variant,” the department said.

“None of these cases are linked to international travel and their source of acquisition is under investigation.”

The two suspected cases are located in the outer Melbourne cities of Casey and Brimbank.

Household contacts of these cases have also tested positive and whole genome sequencing is underway to confirm whether they also represent the Omicron variant.

Victorian health authorities have recorded the state’s first case of the Covid-19 Omicron variant. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

The fully-vaccinated traveller who tested positive for Omicron on Wednesday arrived from the Netherlands via Abu Dhabi on December 3.

They immediately entered hotel quarantine upon arrival in Melbourne and have not been in the community while infectious.

“The source of acquisition remains under investigation,” the department said.

“All other passengers on the inbound flight will be assessed to ensure they have undergone a test.”

The infected traveller initially returned a negative PCR test on December 4, but suddenly became symptomatic on December 6.

They then returned a positive test with the finding of an S gene dropout – a mutation seen in the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

By Wednesday afternoon, genomic sequencing confirmed the traveller was infected with the new variant.

The fully-vaccinated traveller arrived at Melbourne airport from the Netherlands via Abu Dhabi on December 3. Picture: William West/AFP

The arrival of the first Omicron case comes as Victoria records 1312 new coronavirus cases and five more deaths.

There are 303 people hospitalised with the virus, including 51 people in intensive care.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton on Sunday said the Omicron variant’s eventual arrival in Victoria was inevitable.

“It’s going to be impossible to keep out, I imagine,” Professor Sutton said.

“So it’s still important to buy time and we are doing exactly that.

“The vaccination coverage we’ve got is absolutely critical in protecting (people) and will, I’m sure, provide protection – we just are yet to determine how much.”

Daniel Andrews said he would not pursue a ‘Omicron zero’ target. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Premier Daniel Andrews assured Victorians he would not pursue a “Omicron zero” strategy to lock out the new variant.

“The notion that we try and keep this out forever … that just doesn’t make sense,” he said.

“We think that’s important not just for the people of Victoria and NSW, but if Victoria and NSW are working closely together, I reckon that’s pretty good for the rest of the country as well.”