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Travellers from southern Africa getting into New South Wales are urged to isolate and get examined for COVID-19.

This contains anybody who had been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Eswatini, within the 14 days earlier than arriving in NSW.

All folks within the family are additionally being informed to isolate till additional discover.

NSW Well being introduced the change as we speak in response to considerations over the brand new COVID-19 variant, Omicron B.1.1.529, which was first recognized in South Africa.

Instances have now additionally been present in Botswana, Hong Kong, Belgium and Israel.

“The emergence of this new variant reinforces the essential significance of all totally vaccinated travellers who return from abroad complying with the NSW Well being pointers,” NSW Well being mentioned in a press release.

“There are necessities to be examined and restrictions on attending sure high-risk premises.”

No circumstances of Omicron have been recognized in NSW, the well being division has confirmed.

a man wearing glasses talking
 Mr Hazzard says Omicron may very well be extra transmissible than Delta.(ABC Information)

The federal authorities has joined greater than 20 nations in implementing measures to cease the unfold of Omicron.

Federal Well being Minister, Greg Hunt has introduced 5 “precautionary” guidelines that embody necessary 14-days quarantine, no entry to non-Australian residents from southern Africa and the suspension of flights from these international locations.

“We have taken precautious motion prior to now. We have taken early motion prior to now. We’re doing that once more,” Mr Hunt mentioned.

“The distinction is that we now have robust vaccines, we’ve one of many highest ranges of protection on the earth, we’ve some of the not too long ago vaccinated populations on the earth, and we’ve robust public well being and social measures.”

Present guidelines in NSW for different worldwide guests require they get a COVID-19 PCR check inside 24 hours of arriving and one other check at day six. Self-isolation just isn’t mandatory whereas they wait for his or her end result.

NSW Well being mentioned they have been working intently with the Commonwealth and different states and territories to assemble data on the brand new variant.

Well being Minister Brad Hazzard mentioned the brand new COVID variant was very regarding.

“The truth that it has now taken over by way of progress past Delta signifies that it is doubtless, however we aren’t certain but, that it’s extra transmissible than Delta,” Mr Hazzard mentioned.

“Now, that is regarding for anybody in public well being internationally.”

Returned travellers from southern Africa are additionally urged to get in contact with the well being division.

Premier Dominic Perrottet mentioned there would not be any modifications to the roadmap at this stage however that would change if focused restrictions have been wanted.

“This pandemic just isn’t over, there’ll at all times be completely different variants sometimes and we’ll at all times attempt to maintain the neighborhood protected whereas balancing that, preserving the economic system open and preserving folks in work,” Mr Perrottet mentioned.

“That is the stability we’ll take as we transfer ahead to this subsequent stage.”

Dozens of nations together with the USA and the UK have already closed their borders to South Africa and its neighbouring international locations.

Scientists mentioned it might take weeks to totally perceive the variant’s mutations and whether or not current vaccines and coverings would work in opposition to it.

US infectious illness knowledgeable Dr Anthony Fauci mentioned they have been dashing to make contact with their counterparts in South Africa to study extra about it.

“Proper now we’re getting the fabric along with our South African colleagues to get a state of affairs the place you would really straight check it,” Dr Fauci mentioned.

“So proper now you are speaking a few purple flag that this is perhaps a difficulty, however we do not know.”

Within the 24 hours to 8pm final evening, there have been 235 new domestically acquired COVID-19 circumstances in NSW and no deaths.

There are 174 folks in hospital, 26 are in intensive care and 10 require air flow.

Western NSW Well being has confirmed a case of COVID within the mining city of Cobar. Interviews are at the moment underway to seek out potential shut contacts.

Greater than 76 per cent of the city’s grownup inhabitants has been totally vaccinated.

Up till Friday in NSW, 92.4 per cent of these aged 16 and over have been totally vaccinated and 94.5 per cent had obtained at the very least one COVID jab.

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What COVID-19 journey insurance coverage would not cowl you for(Emilia Terzon)

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