NSW Health has confirmed a traveller from southern Africa who visited shops across Sydney before isolating in the Central Coast has been infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Key points:
- A woman in her 30s travelled to at least two countries in southern Africa before arriving in Sydney
- Two more possible cases of the Omicron variant are under investigation in NSW
- NSW recorded 179 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths
NSW's latest Omicron COVID-19 case visited several shopping centres, supermarkets and fast food outlets in Sydney while infectious for two days in the community.
The case is a woman in her 30s who arrived in Sydney on Thursday, before new travel restrictions were in place.
She had travelled to at least two southern African countries prior to arriving.
NSW Health said initial testing "strongly indicates" she had the Omicron variant and confirmed their findings on Tuesday evening.
The woman, who is fully vaccinated, arrived in Sydney on flight QR908 from Doha and travelled by private car to the Central Coast.
Anyone who was 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.
Anyone who attended these venues in Parramatta and on the Central Coast at the following times is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Friday, November 26:
- Coles Top Ryde, Ryde (9:30am to 10:45am)
- Target at Westfield Parramatta (10:45am to 11am)
- H&M at Westfield Parramatta (11am to 11:15am)
- Athlete's Foot at Westfield Parramatta (11:15am to 11:30am)
- JD Sports at Westfield Parramatta (11:15am to 12pm)
- Rebel Sports at Westfield Parramatta (12pm to 12:45pm)
- IGA North Wyong (6:15pm to 7pm)
- Pizza Hut Wyong (7pm – 7:15pm)
- KFC North Wyong (7:15pm to 7:30pm)
- Woolworths Wadalba (7.30pm to 8:15pm)
Saturday, November 27:
- Aldi Toukley (4:45pm to 5:45pm)
"Please get tested even if you have had a test in recent days. If you test result is negative, please continue to monitor for symptoms and if any symptoms appear, get tested and isolate again," a NSW Health spokesperson said.
NSW Health said a person now residing in Broken Hill who was on the same flight from Doha was unlikely to have been infected with the Omicron variant but was still isolating at home.
Genomic sequencing is still underway to probe whether one other confirmed COVID-19 case from that flight has the Omicron variant.
Loading...Four travellers from southern Africa who arrived in Sydney over the weekend have since tested positive to the Omicron variant.
They are all fully vaccinated and isolating in special health accommodation.
The only other recorded Omicron case in Australia is a man who has been at the Howard Springs quarantine facility since arriving from South Africa on November 25.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Omicron as a "variant of concern" but said further research was needed to assess its potential to escape protection against immunity induced by vaccines and previous infections.
Health Minister Greg Hunt this morning said the government's "overwhelming view" was that the Omicron variant was "manageable" and the health advice was that it may be milder than other variants.
In response to Omicron, the federal government has paused tomorrow's planned opening of the border to international students, skilled migrants and visa holders until December 15.
However, the NSW government will proceed with its international student pilot program and a charter flight carrying up to 250 students will land in Sydney on December 6.
The ABC understands none of the students are from southern African countries.
Omicron was first reported to the WHO by South Africa earlier this month and Australia has now banned non-citizens from eight countries in the southern part of Africa from entering.
These countries are: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique.
NSW has introduced new rules that mean Australian citizens from these countries must isolate in a health facility for 14 days after arriving in Australia and those arriving from anywhere else in the world must isolate for 72 hours at their residence or accommodation.
State and territory leaders met with the Prime Minister at National Cabinet to discuss the response to the Omicron variant on Tuesday and Mr Perrottet said he was hoping for a consistent national approach.
NSW recorded 179 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday night.
A man in his 50s from Tamworth who had underlying health conditions died at Tamworth Base Hospital. He had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A woman in her 60s with underlying health conditions died at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney's east. She had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A man in his 40s from Western Sydney who also had underlying health conditions and was partially vaccinated died at Nepean Hospital.
Loading...Loading...