Third possible Omicron case in NSW

NSW Health on Sunday confirmed two returned travellers had tested positive for Omicron upon their arrival in Sydney, making them the first known cases of the variant in Australia.

Mr Perrottet on Monday morning said a third traveller had “possibly” tested positive for the new strain.

Mr Perrottet said 141 people from nine southern African countries impacted by the variant had arrived in NSW in the past 24 hours and were in quarantine.

Genomic testing on Sunday confirmed two overseas travellers who returned to Sydney on Saturday had been infected with the new strain, which is circulating in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi.

The two positive cases, who were asymptomatic, were in isolation in special health accommodation.

Mr Perrottet said Australia didn’t need a “knee-jerk” reaction to Omicron and ultimately people would need to learn to live alongside the virus and different variants.

“We want to rejoin the world. There are major challenges facing the state,” he told reporters on Monday.

“There is a major labour shortage. There are many families and many businesses that depend on international tourism.

“What is most important is that as we assess the situation, we understand the health impacts, and we make the decisions accordingly that are in the best interest of the people of NSW.”

NSW reported 150 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths on Monday.

There are 170 people in hospital with the virus and 25 in intensive care.

Of the over 16 population, 94.5 per cent have had two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and 92.4 per cent have had at least one shot.

Mr Perrottet reiterated that his government would focus on keeping hospitalisations low and vaccination rates high rather than case numbers.

Originally published as Dominic Perrottet flags third ‘possible’ case of Omicron in Sydney