Highlights

Australia reports first two cases of new Covid variant
Both the passengers were asymptomatic and in isolation
Australia: both had arrived from southern Africa

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Omicron: Australia confirms two cases of new Covid-19 variant

Both the passengers were asymptomatic, fully vaccinated and in quarantine according to the Australian health officials. All the passengers and crew have also been directed to isolate.

Updated: Nov 28, 2021 12:32

Editorji News Desk

Australia has confirmed that two people who arrived from southern Africa over the weekend have tested positive for the Omicron coronavirus variant.

New South Wales Health officials said both the passengers had tested positive on arrival in Sydney on Satruday evening and on Sunday genome sequencing confirmed it as Omicron variant.

Both the passengers were asymptomatic, fully vaccinated and in quarantine according to the Australian health officials. All the passengers and crew have also been directed to isolate.

Australia imposed new restrictions on Saturday on people who have been to nine southern African countries like South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique as the highly infectious variant raises concerns about another wave of the pandemic.

Australia early this month eased its international border restrictions for the first time since the pandemic, allowing fully vaccinated residents to return to the country without quarantine after higher vaccination levels.

ALSO WATCH: Experts' description of 'Omicron' variant raises concern