Case numbers aren't the issue – it's the new variant's effect on a person that's concerning
Plans to ease border restrictions in Australia have been delayed to December 15 as cases of the newly detected Omicron variant of COVID-19 were reported in the country. Australia intended to relax border restrictions this Wednesday, with vaccinated students, skilled workers, and travellers to be permitted to land without quarantine. However, the five reported cases so far of the Omicron variant put these plans into hold for at least two weeks, ABC reported, in order to give the government more time to review and prepare for the new COVID-19 strain.
"The temporary pause will ensure Australia can gather the information we need to better understand the Omicron variant, including the efficacy of the vaccine, the range of illness, including if it may generate more mild symptoms, and the level of transmission," the government said in a statement quoted by ABC.
According to Morrison, the case numbers of the Omicron variant are not the issue – it’s about the effects it has on victims.
"It's about whether people are getting a worse illness or it’s going to put stress on your hospital system," he said as quoted by ABC.
In addition to the postponement of border reopening, the government also said that non-Australians and permanent residents from Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi, and Mozambique within the past 14 days will be barred entry in Australia. Australians, however, may be permitted subject to quarantine protocols. Capital Canberra, including New South Wales and Victoria, have imposed a 72-hour quarantine requirement for all inbound travellers.
