NSW records fifth Omicron case, jacks up penalties for non-compliance
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced big changes as the state handles the emerging spread of the Omicron variant.
Australia has confirmed its sixth Omicron case, after a woman in her 30s tested positive after arriving from South Africa on Saturday.
Alarmingly, it is understood the woman visited several venues on the NSW Central Coast while infectious.
The latest cases is the fifth in NSW, with another case in the Northern Territory confirmed yesterday.
Two more recent arrivals in NSW are undergoing urgent testing.
It comes after Australia slammed its borders shut to travellers from nine southern African countries impacted by the variant, including South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi.
At a national cabinet meeting held today, senior government officials revealed they would continue with their current strategy to contain Omicron cases as they arrive and will not move to close borders until further information on the danger of the variant is released.
“The National Cabinet agreed that the Commonwealth and state and territory governments will continue to pursue a suppression strategy, noting the objective is to limit the rate of Omicron incursions into Australia, rather than eliminate it at the border,” a Tuesday evening press release read.
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Yesterday, the federal government also “paused” its plan to ease Australia’s border restrictions, which were due to kick in tomorrow, for a fortnight.
Read on for our live coverage of the Omicron situation.
NSW announces new measures to manage Omicron variant
The NSW Government has announced it will increase penalties for non-compliance as it continues to take a precautionary approach to the Omicron variant, which has been detected in five people across the state.
In a Tuesday night release, officials said the Government was continuing with its quarantine arrangements for overseas arrivals in line with additional national border security measures by the Australian Government.
Returning travellers from hotspot nations (listed above) must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.
All other overseas travellers must complete a PCR test and isolate for 72 hours at a nominated address or accommodation.
“People will only be able to exit isolation at the end of the 72 hour period if they have received a negative result,” the update read. “After exiting isolation people must complete an additional PCR test on day six after arrival and comply with the NSW Health guidelines for recent fully vaccinated arrivals.
The NSW Government has increased penalties for non-compliance with the isolation, testing and quarantine requirements to $5,000 for individuals (from $1,000) and $10,000 for corporations (from $5,000).
The new changes will be in place from midnight tonight (December 1st).
“We are well prepared here in NSW but it is important we take the necessary steps to protect the community and adopt measures that will allow us to learn to live with COVID,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
“We will continue to make any necessary changes as we receive updated information. Our overriding message, as always, is to continue to get vaccinated. It is still the best way to protect yourself and your family.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned returning travellers to think twice about flouting the rules.
“I would warn anyone who can think they can skip the isolation requirements to think twice – we are taking this new variant incredibly seriously,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Police and health officials will be on the front foot to ensure compliance and significant penalties will apply for anyone found to be breaking the rules.”
Moderna executive weighs in on Omicron variant
Moderna’s chief executive Stephane Bancel has warned the current crop of vaccines will unlikely be suited to tackle new strains of coronavirus such as Omicron.
Bancel said it would take months before pharmaceutical companies catch up to newly emerging variants and manufacture suitable vaccines at scale.
“There is no world, I think, where (the effectiveness) is the same level we had with (the) Delta,” Bancel told the Financial Times.
“I think it’s going to be a material drop. I just don’t know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I’ve talked to say, ‘This is not going to be good’.”
Pharmaceutical giants Moderna and Pfizer are currently working on new vaccines to target the Omicron variant after the World Health Organisation declared it poses a “very high risk”.
“There’s a reasonable degree of confidence in vaccine circles that (with) at least three doses, the patient is going to have fairly good protection against this variant,” director of Pfizer and former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration Scott Gottlieb said on Tuesday.
Victoria takes precautions
Victoria has echoed NSW’s move to require all returning travellers who have been to Omicron hotspot countries to isolate in hotel quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
All other overseas travellers must complete a PCR test and isolate for 72 hours at a nominated address or accommodation.
The last few days are a reminder that this isn't over yet and our response needs to change as the virus changes.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) November 30, 2021
That's why - as a precaution - we're making changes to quarantine for some international arrivals to keep Victorians safe until we know more about Omicron. pic.twitter.com/uWuwmPQ1cD
Fifth Omicron case confirmed in NSW
A fifth Omicron case has been confirmed in NSW.
The case is a woman in her 30s who touched down in Sydney from South Africa on Saturday, November 25.
She reportedly spent time in a number of venues on the NSW Central Coast before testing positive.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard told 7 NEWS the woman “has essentially been out in the Central Coast area”.
“This particular lady came in before the new arrangements, that is transferring to a health hotel, so she has been out in the community and health is now investigating that,” he said.
It brings the total number of Omicron cases nationwide to six.
Lismore Hospital reacts to Covid contacts
41 staff at Lismore Base Hospital are in isolation after coming into contact with a Covid-19 case, which was reportedly linked to a staff Christmas party.
According to reports, up to half of Tuesday’s scheduled elective surgeries have been cancelled. The local bowling club has also been shut after a staff member contracted the virus.
“It is our unfortunate situation to have had one of our contractors contract covid-19 in the last 48 hours,” the club posted.
“We will be closing the club today, Tuesday the 30th November for deep cleaning and covid testing of all our staff. We will keep you informed as to Safe Work and NSW Health objectives going forward.”
‘Get tested immediately’: 11 NSW venues exposed to Omicron
NSW Health has released a string of venues visited by the countries latest Omicron case, with the department declaring testing “strongly indicates” the woman in her 30s has the new strain.
The woman, who is fully vaccinated, arrived in Sydney on flight QR908 from Doha to Sydney on 25 November and travelled by private car to the Central Coast. She had been in southern Africa, and is now isolating at home on the Central Coast.
“Everyone on the flight is considered a close contact and will need to get tested immediately for Covid-19 and isolate for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status,” the department said in a statement.
“NSW Health is contacting all passengers and flight crew to advise them of their isolation requirements.
“NSW Health advises a number of venues were visited by the traveller in Sydney and on the Central Coast before NSW Health directed travellers from southern Africa to go into isolation.”
The venues include:
● Coles, Top Ryde Shopping Centre: Friday, November 26, 9.30am to 10.45am
● Target Parramatta, Westfield Parramatta: Friday November 26, 10.45am to 11am
● H&M Parramatta, Westfield Parramatta: Friday November 26, 11am to 11.15am
● The Athlete’s Foot, Westfield Parramatta: Friday November 26, 11.15am to 11.30am
● JD Sports, Westfield Parramatta: Friday November 26, 11.15am to 12pm
● Rebel Sports, Westfield Parramatta: Friday November 26, 12pm to 12.45pm
● IGA, North Wyong: Friday November 26, 6.15pm to 7pm
● Pizza Hut, Wyong: Friday November 26, 7pm to 7.15pm
● KFC North, Wyong: Friday November 26, 7.15pm to 7.30pm
● Woolworths, Wadalba: Friday November 26, 7.30pm to 8.15pm
● Aldi, Toukley: Saturday November 27, 4.45pm to 5.45pm
Anyone who attended those venue at the times listed is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Overseas visitors banned from Tassie
Tasmania will bar travellers from overseas in a bid to keep out the Omicron strain.
Under the new measure, anyone who has been overseas during the fortnight before Sunday.
PMs warning for travellers
Scott Morrison has urged Aussies planning to jet overseas to think twice given the Omicron spread.
“We don’t know enough yet about (Omicron) and the advice that I received at the National Security Committee … was that this temporary pause will provide the opportunity to understand and learn more about this. It is not a reason to step back,” Mr Morrison told reporters from Canberra.
No new cases in NT
Territorians can breathe a sigh of relief, with no new Covid cases recorded in the NT overnight.
The good news was confirmed by Health Minister Natasha Fyles, who said the cluster remains at 58 across the territory.
The Katherine lockout will remain in place until December 7, but Ms Fyles said things were “moving in the right direction”.
Ms Fyles said the territory’s one Omicron case was still being cared for, with further testing being carried out among those on that case’s flight.
New cases in ACT
The ACT has recorded six new Covid cases overnight.
No Omicron cases in Vic
Genomic sequencing results have been returned for a confirmed case originating from a country of concern who travelled to Victoria from NSW.
The Health Department confirmed today the case does not have the Omicron variant.
Fresh Omicron fears for NSW flight
NSW Health has announced it is investigating two Covid cases who touched down on flight QR908 on November 25.
Both are isolating at their respective homes.
“Urgent genomic sequencing is underway to determine whether these cases have been infected with the Omicron Covid-19 variant,” NSW Health said in a statement.
“All passengers on this flight must be tested immediately, regardless of previous test results and vaccination status, and isolate until a negative result is received.”
NSW Health is investigating two COVID cases who arrived in NSW on flight QR908 on 25 November. Both are isolating at their respective homes. Urgent genomic sequencing is underway to determine whether these cases have been infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) November 30, 2021
Vax rule ‘won’t be here forever’
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has insisted controversial vaccine mandates will be temporary during a morning press conference.
“They won’t be here forever but they’re based on health advice and we’ll continue to follow health advice,” he said.
“Whilst we review all the rules and because of the rules and the vaccination rates we’ve been able to achieve, just over a few weeks ago, we took all the rules off pretty much except for masks in a number of sensitive settings, really.
“But we will continue to review continuously all of the rules and that includes the way the vaccinated economy operates.”
However, he said boosters would still be necessary.
“But I will say this, we’ve got to get boosters done, we’ve got to get the paediatric vaccine done, and the last couple of days show us that this virus is not static. It’s going to keep changing,” he said.
“And our response will need to be nimble. And the inherent protections that come from encouraging everyone to get vaccinated, well, the hospitalisation numbers tell you all that you need to know.
“There are very, very few people, a handful in fact, that are in hospital, double jabbed, really sick.”
Jabs mandatory for QLD workers
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a vaccine mandate for all staff in schools, early childhood centres, correctional facilities, youth detention centres and airports.
“We know that children under 12 cannot access the vaccination and we want to do everything we can to protect these young people,” she said.
Workers included in the mandate must have their first jab by December 17, and be fully vaccinated by January 23.
BREAKING: Vaccinations will be mandated for people who work in schools, early childhood centres, correctional centres, youth detention facilities and airports. #covid19pic.twitter.com/Akq3S8VQIG
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) November 29, 2021
Australia’s big vax news
The nation's first mRNA vaccine will begin clinical trials in Victoria in 2022.
The vaccine, led by Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Doherty Institute and IDT Australia, will be tested for the new Omicron strain, with results expected later next year.
No Covid cases in QLD
There have been no new local Covid cases recorded in the Sunshine State overnight.
However, two cases were confirmed in hotel quarantine.
Australia’s response to Omicron slammed
The World Health Organisation has lashed developed nations such as Australia, claiming the decision to slam shut borders could actually be counter-productive.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told Sky News on Tuesday shutting out affected countries could mean they are less willing to share vital information about Omicron moving forward.
“We don’t like to see that level of restriction because that really punishes (those countries),”she said.
“It makes other countries less comfortable about being so helpful to the rest of the world.”
Clue booster date might not change
CMO Paul Kelly has dropped a significant hint that Australia’s booster jab timeline might not change after all, despite widespread speculation Omicron will bring third doses forward by several months.
“We need to be cognisant of the international evidence and international decisions, but remember the Northern Hemisphere is in winter so boosters in winter make a lot of sense,” Prof Kelly said.
“We’re more than six months away from winter. We know that respiratory viruses circulate a lot more in winter.
“It’s likely that that’s when we would want the boosters to be totally actively working. “There are some significant reasons behind the delay of a booster more than three months but it’s a balance and that’s exactly the sort of issues that I discussed this morning with ATAGI and they’ll look at that now.”
‘We can’t keep Omicron out forever’
Federal Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has issued a blunt warning, telling Australians Omicron will spread through the nation.
”Wee cannot keep this Omicron variant out forever from Australia,” he said.
“Eventually it will be here.
“Most importantly now we do what we can to slow down that introduction and all of the measures that have been introduced will assist with that.”
Anti-vaxxers’ ‘malicious’ act slammed
Health Minister Greg Hunt has hit out at the “malicious targeting” of anti-vaccination messaging to Australia’s Indigenous community, which has had “significant hesitancy” when it came to Covid jabs.
“We’ve seen a strong spike in Indigenous vaccinations over recent weeks. There was a significant hesitancy. That’s the honest answer,” he said.
“We’re now, as it today, at 74 per cent Indigenous first dose and 62.6 per cent Indigenous second dose … We’re seeing that initial hesitancy falling away.
“There has been some, I think, fairly malicious targeting by some anti-vax groups of Indigenous groups and we’ve been fighting against that for a long while but we’re beginning to win that fight.”
‘No lockdown’: NSW’s bold vow
NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole has made the bold promise that NSW will have “no lockdown” and “no hotel quarantine” despite growing Omicron fears.
Appearing on Sunrise this morning, Mr Toole urged against further “knee jerk reactions” when it came to Covid.
“We are really a world leader when it comes to the community coming forward to get vaccinated but I want to make it clear that we should not be doing any knee-jerk reactions or looking at blanket bans because we have done the right thing and it’s been a tough couple of years … and we want to see people now enjoying Christmas,” he said.
He insisted that meant “no lockdown” and “no hotel quarantine” for NSW residents.
“We hope to learn to live with the virus and we all know that the most important thing is getting vaccinated,” he said.
“We want all states to stick to the road map, stick to the plan.”
179 cases in NSW
NSW has recorded 179 new Covid cases overnight and three deaths.
NSW COVID-19 update – Tuesday 30 November 2021
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) November 29, 2021
In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:
- 94.5% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 92.4% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/jvgNKwp8uJ
Victoria records 918 new cases
There were 918 new Covid cases detected in Victoria overnight.
Sadly, there were also an additional six deaths.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) November 29, 2021
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/hflZSgmc00
New variant could extend hated rule
Experts hare pushing for Covid booster jabs to be brought forward by four months in light of the emerging Omicron threat.
OzSAGE, a group of 80 independent Australian experts, held a panel yesterday to discuss Omicron measures, with the group calling for boosters, which are currently given six months after an individual’s second Covid vaccination, to instead be given two months later.
But the group also wants other restrictions extended, including the controversial face mask requirement and mandatory QR code check-ins.
‘Need more time’: Scramble to stop Omicron
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews told Sunrise the Omicron variant was “very different” to Delta and that authorities were scrambling to react, with the situation changing “hour by hour”.
“National cabinet will meet this afternoon and they will go through the latest health advice, and let’s be realistic, this is changing on almost an hour by hour basis as health professionals get more information about this particular variant,” she said on Tuesday morning.
“Out of that will be a range of decisions that states may well take in relation to internal domestic borders.
“What we would say is that the Omicron variant is an unknown to all of us at the moment here in Australia. We do need time to make sure that we understand what the impacts of this particular variant will be here in Australia. This is very different to the Delta variant.”
However, she stressed that the two-week “pause” on easing border restrictions applied to skilled migrants, international students and other designated Visa holders only, and that no Australian citizens, permanent residents or immediate families were affected.
National cabinet is tipped to meet at around 4pm AEDT today.
Huge win for Dan’s divisive pandemic Bill
Daniel Andrews has managed to secure a deal which is set to give his government’s controversial pandemic Bill the green light.
According to the Herald Sun, the Andrews government agreed to six amendments in order to get the support needed to pass the legislation.
One of those changes is the addition of a panel which will review appeals to detention enforced by public health orders, taking control away from the government or chief health officer.
Public health orders will also be reviewed by a parliamentary joint special committee.
The Bill will be brought before Victoria’s upper house today.
Omicron ‘over-reaction’ slammed
Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott has hit out at the “over-reaction” to the Omicron variant, warning it was hurting businesses.
“The major concern is over-reaction and inconsistent decisions across states, going into statewide lockdowns again and going into the sorts of things that aren’t relevant to the risk of this new strain and that we go back to where we were with rolling lockdowns stop
starting,” she told Sunrise this morning.
“People need to know how to plan for Christmas and order stock and they need some certainty.”
Urgent meeting to review quarantine rules
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be joined by premiers and chief ministers during a snap national cabinet meeting today to discuss the Omicron crisis.
Potential changes to quarantine rules are expected to be high o the agenda, although NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is pushing for a proportionate response to the new strain, after previously warning against “kneejerk” reactions.
Since Saturday, all overseas arrivals into NSW, the ACT and Victoria have been required to undergo testing and isolate for 72 hours in response to Omicron, while most other states and territories require hotel quarantine.
However, there is growing speculation those rules could be tightened further.
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