Australia has detected its third confirmed case of Omicron, with another jurisdiction confirming the strain in Australia.
The Northern Territory has detected its first case of the Omicron strain, but authorities say there is no risk to the community because the man has been in quarantine since touching down in Darwin.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles said genomic testing had confirmed that an Australian man who travelled into Darwin from South Africa had the new variant of concern.
However, she said the man had been in quarantine at Howard Springs since arriving.
“This is the positive case we recorded two days ago, the South African man who flew to Darwin on a repatriation flight on November 25,” Ms Fyles said.
“That flight went from Johannesburg straight into Darwin.
“Genomic sequencing does confirm the man has the Omicron variant of Covid-19, so the first case for the Northern Territory.
“But the territory community should be reassured, the gentleman went straight to Howard Springs.”
It is the third official case of Omicron in Australia, with two cases confirmed in NSW at the weekend and urgent testing being undertaken for another.
Ms Fyles also said there had been two new local cases of coronavirus recorded linked to the Katherine cluster – two teenage girls, aged 17 and 19, from the Binjari community.
It comes after Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed Australia’s peak vaccine advisory body had been asked to review the timeline for the nation’s booster program in light of the Omicron strain, vowing to make any changes recommended.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Hunt said Australia was one of the best prepared countries in the world to deal with the new strain.
Mr Hunt said he had asked the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to review the booster program.
“That is in light of international evidence more generally, with regards to immunity and also in light of the Omicron variant,” he said.
“And we will, as ever, allow them to act independently and continue to follow their advice. “But we’re prepared with supplies, we are already one of the earliest nations in the world, after Israel, to have a whole-of-nation booster program.
“If they recommend changes, we will follow those changes.”
Mr Hunt said he had also spoken with Pfizer and Moderna about Australia’s contract and any need for changes to vaccines that may arise – although presently there is no evidence that is the case.
“I confirmed that, as our contract had already prepared for variants, that if there were a requirement for a change, that they are ready and we are ready,” he said.
“(But) the early advice is that there are no signs at this stage that there is any breach to the integrity of the vaccine program.”
Mr Hunt said that the Prime Minister was also convening a national security committee meeting to “review the evidence” and “range of actions” in regards to Omicron.
“We convened our first meeting on this on Friday, and on Saturday we took the steps to cease those flights and to close those borders,” he said.
The Prime Minister will also call a national cabinet meeting with states and territories within the next 48 hours to work on “ensuring that there’s common understanding, common information, and common actions among all of the jurisdictions”.
Mr Hunt warned that they would not hesitate to take additional steps if they were needed.
“We will not hesitate to take additional steps if the medical evidence is that more are required,” he said.
Mr Hunt’s comments came after the Prime Minister and Australia’s top medic on Monday said there was no sign the Omicron variant was more severe than other strains of the virus.
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 new strain.
However, chief medical officer Paul Kelly 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 said.
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 Mr 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.
“What is important we stay calm.”
Originally published as Omicron Covid-19: Man quarantining in NT confirmed to have new variant
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