Emerging research suggests the worrying new coronavirus strain is no more severe than previous incarnations of the disease.
Both the Prime Minister and Australia’s top medico say there is no sign yet that the new Omicron variant is more severe than other strains of the coronavirus.
Several European and Asian nations reported cases of Omicron overnight and a growing number have shut their borders to southern African countries in an attempt to ward off the worrying new strain.
However, chief medical officer Paul Kelly on Monday said while Omicron was rightly being treated with concern – particularly as much is still to be learnt about the new strain – the latest research suggested its symptoms were no more severe than previous versions of the disease.
“There is some science in South Africa but particularly those in other countries, and that number is growing overnight, that it is relatively mild compared with previous versions,” Professor Kelly told ABC News24.
Professor Kelly stressed that it was “still early days” and much more still needed to be learnt about the transmissibility of Omicron and its potential interference with existing treatments.
He did, however, suggest there was no urgent need for vaccine makers to tweak their formulas to counter Omicron.
“But if it was the case, we’ve already heard from several of the vaccine manufacturers, including those who have bought all three that are licensed here that they’re working on that,” Professor Kelly said.
Professor Kelly said had been in frequent contact with Prime Minister Scott Morrison over Australia’s border situation, though he would not speculate on whether government would extend its ban on entrants from nine African countries.
“We‘re watching very closely and actively engaging with our international partners in the scientific field but also the diplomatic field to get a sense for how the world is going,” he said.
Mr Morrison made a similar call for calm in an appearance on Sunrise as anxieties grow that Omicron will trigger another wave of border closures and lockdowns.
“It’s obviously a variant of concern. It’s not first one we’ve had. We’ve had 13 variants of concern,” Mr Morrison said.
“I think what is important we stay calm.”
Originally published as Covid-19: Paul Kelly says no evidence Omicron strain more severe
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