Sydney, Nov 28, 2008 : Two cases of Omicron coronavirus variant were confirmed by health authorities in Australia’s state New South Wales Sunday afternoon.The results of urgent genomic sequencing of overseas travelers was performed by the Health Authorities of Australia. The state is the location of the country’s largest international airport.It reported that two of the 14 arrivals from south African countries tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday morning.
Urgent genomic sequencing has begun for the Omicron variant, Xinhua news agency reported.
The variant, which is believed to be more infective than any other strains, was first identified in South Africa on Friday and was flagged by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as a “variant concern”.
According to health authorities, the two cases, who arrived in Sydney from southern Africa on Saturday evening, were tested for Covid-19 on Saturday night.
Both were asymptomatic and are now in isolation at the Special Health Accommodation.Both cases have been fully vaccinated.
Two passengers were among 14 travelers from southern Africa who arrived via Doha to Sydney.
The Special Health Accommodation is hosting the remaining 12 passengers for 14 days of hotel quarantine.The flight crew and passengers were close to each other and were directed to isolate.
Prior to the confirmation that the two cases were infected, the Premier of NSW Dominic Perrottet stated that new variants would be entering Australia.He also said that the government was taking a precautionary approach to the issue.
The state has already implemented new measures starting Saturday at midnight.This includes mandatory hotel quarantine for all travellers who were in South Africa, Botswana or Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Namibia during the 14-day period prior to their arrival in NSW.
The NSW health authorities advised that anyone who arrived in NSW from one of the nine African countries within 14 days must be tested immediately and isolated for 14 days.
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