Genomic testing has confirmed another two cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant from passengers who arrived in Sydney from southern Africa last night.
Photo: AFP
Both passengers arrived in Sydney from southern Africa on Singapore Airlines flight SQ211 on Sunday.
NSW Health said they were fully vaccinated and isolating in the special health accommodation (SHA).
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.
There are now five confirmed cases of the new "variant of concern" in Australia, which scientists around the world are trying to determine is more infectious than other strains of Covid, and whether it is more resistant to vaccines.
Yesterday, two travellers from southern Africa who landed in Sydney on Saturday night became the first confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Australia.
The pair, who arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, were placed in the SHA.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said both people were fully vaccinated and asymptomatic.
The third case announced earlier today was a man in his 30s who tested positive for the variant while in a quarantine facility in Howard Springs, Northern Territory.
He had boarded a repatriation flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The territory's health authorities said they were "not overly concerned" about the case and travellers were in a "completely separate area" from interstate travellers.
The Omicron variant has triggered dozens of countries to close their borders to South Africa, where the virus was first recorded.
The federal government joined the international community in restricting travel to non-Australian citizens from these countries on Saturday.
NSW introduced new rules that meant those still permitted to arrive in Australia must isolate in a health facility for 14 days.
New Zealand has also moved nine countries into the very high risk category, restricting travel from those countries to New Zealand citizens only and requiring a full 14 days in MIQ.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said 141 people from nine southern African countries impacted by the variant - South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi - had arrived in NSW over the past 24 hours.
The Commonwealth said, in light of so far very limited data on the new variant, there were "heartening signs" about Omicron.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said evidence pointed to the new variant having milder symptoms than other strains, but conceded this may change in the coming weeks.
"As we approach Christmas, know that out of all of the countries in the world, Australia is as well prepared as anybody," Hunt said.
- ABC / RNZ
