There are no cases of the new Omicron variant in the ACT, but the territory government is taking a precautionary approach, said ACT Health Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith.
ACT Health introduced precautionary measures in response to the emergence of Omicron variant consistent with Commonwealth, NSW, and Victorian measures. Last night, those measures were extended until 15 December.
“We’re still in a real information gathering stage about the Omicron variant and what the impact is going to have, both internationally in Australia, and here in the ACT,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “So, at the moment, we’re just holding steady.”
ACT Health is working with the Commonwealth, NSW and Victoria to identify any international travellers who may have entered the ACT from southern Africa before travel restrictions were introduced, and to identify and quarantine any close contacts of Omicron exposures in the ACT.
As at 8pm yesterday, nine people in the ACT had been identified as close contacts of a confirmed case of the Omicron variant. Ms Stephen-Smith anticipated that this number might increase.
Passengers aboard Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines flights from southern Africa tested positive to the Omicron strain earlier this week.
ACT Health was notified yesterday of another international flight with potential cases onboard; contact tracing is underway.
Fewer than 15 people quarantining in the ACT have been in one of the countries of interest: South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini (Swaziland), or Malawi.
At this stage, the ACT Government does not consider increasing restrictions, but Ms Stephen-Smith would not rule out lockdowns altogether.
“We will continue to be guided by the public health advice, as we have been throughout the pandemic,” she said.
Over the next week, the ACT Government will consider whether it will change gathering restrictions and density requirements in hospitality venues, or where the mandatory QR code check-in will be applied.
“We are very reassured by our very high, world-leading vaccination rate,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
Ninety-eight per cent of eligible Canberrans over 12 are fully vaccinated, although these vaccines might not be as effective against the Omicron variant.
The ACT will monitor the spread of the Omicron variant in southern Africa and other countries.
“Obviously, we have no cases of Omicron here in the ACT, and the identified cases in Australia to date are in quarantine,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “And so, we have a really good opportunity as a nation and as a jurisdiction to respond quickly and firmly to this new emerging variant of COVID-19.
“But we’ve stopped making any kinds of predictions during the global pandemic. We were all hoping that we would settle in to eased restrictions, get through Christmas and New Year, and be on our way to a COVID-normal, almost post-COVID environment. The emergence of this variant has stopped everybody in their tracks a little bit.”
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