Premiers vow: no lockdown or borders

Victoria and NSW have vowed to keep open their borders and cities as other states refuse to rule out shutting down as concerns mount over the Omicron variant.

Dominic Perrottet says there was still a lot to learn about the new variant but hospitalisations remain low. Picture: Dane Millerd

Victoria and NSW, the two most populous states, have vowed to keep open their borders and cities as other states refuse to rule out shutting down as concerns mount over the Omicron variant.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet both on Sunday reiterated they would keep their states open and avoid lockdowns if cases of Omicron increased.

Mr Andrews said the heightened infectiousness of the new variant meant that it was unlikely the state could keep it out forever and Victoria would remain open.

He said any tightening of ­border restrictions ahead of Christmas would only result in frustration and disappointment.

“We won’t be pursuing Omicron zero here, we don’t think that makes any sense – it might already be here,” Mr Andrews said.

“The good news is that whilst it’s more infectious, the evidence suggests it is milder.”

Mr Andrews said he and Mr Perrottet texted on Saturday and both were confident the current level of restrictions could remain, given both states had high levels of vaccination.

“If Victoria and NSW are working closely together, I ­reckon that’s pretty good for the rest of the country as well,” he said.

Victoria recorded 980 Covid cases and seven deaths on Sunday, with 299 people in hospital as the state’s double-vaccination rate jumped above 91.5 per cent.

In NSW, the number of Omicron cases recorded rose to 15 as the state saw a total of 286 cases and one new death as the double-vaccination rate inched closer to 95 per cent.

Mr Perrottet said lockdowns were no longer the answer and the state would not close its ­borders because of the Omicron variant.

He said he and Mr Andrews agreed that the roadmap to reopening could not be altered every time there was a “bump in the road”.

“The mental health and economic impacts of continually opening and closing borders is very significant and our Victorian colleagues feel as strongly about this as we do,” he said.

“We won’t be altering our roadmap every time there is a bump in the road and I think Mr Andrews and I are in agreement on that approach.”

Mr Perrottet said there was still a lot to learn about the new variant but hospitalisations remained low and vaccinations were the best defence against the virus.

Meanwhile, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall refused to rule out closing his state’s ­border, saying health authorities were “very concerned” about the Omicron variant after the state recorded five new infections, bringing the total to 36.

“We’re meeting on a very regular basis and we don’t take any option off the table,” Mr Marshall said.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Sunday provisionally approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five-11, pending final approval from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the ­announcement but said she had been dismissed when she first called to vaccinate young children in September.

“Apparently there was nowhere else in the world that was doing this and no testing was being done,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Well, it was, and it makes sense.”

Queensland recently tightened its border restrictions and ­any visiting travellers who have been in the greater Adelaide region since ­November 28 have to be fully ­vaccinated and quarantine for 14 days.