Australia begins Genome testing after records Omicron community case

In Australia, Five people in Sydney have contracted the omicron variant of the coronavirus locally, New South Wales health authorities confirmed. The cases are linked to two schools and a climbing gym in Sydney's western suburbs, which may also be the source of a confirmed omicron infection in the Australian Capital Territory, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said Sunday. Urgent genome testing is underway for a number of other cases linked to the venues and should be available in coming days, she said in an update.New South Wales state has confirmed 15 omicron infections and more are likely, Chant said. The outbreak was seeded from infected travelers on a flight from Doha who had been in southern Africa.

South Australia state on Saturday increased restrictions for international travelers over omicron fears, requiring all arrivals to quarantine for 14 days, not just those from southern Africa. Travelers arriving from Australia's south-eastern states will need to test on arrival and isolate until a negative result is received, state Premier Steven Marshall said.Omicron is "here in Australia," he said. "It's contained to this point but we could receive further information in the coming days that it is no longer contained."