Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Carrots]

We just need them to stop the panic with the new variant. A statement from WHO like the leak would be very helpful right now. The press conference today suggested that the CHO was getting very stressed and the media was very pressing. But this time asking very relevant questions.

I would suggest the CHO hadn't been to the hairdresser......this would cause great angst and stress!

One can only hope the media have awoken from their slumber of regurgitating media releases, and will actually ask some relevant questions.
Or perhaps Chris Kenny will soon be back for Christmas.

 

[Lynda2475]

So the 7th Omicron case in NSW is a child too young to be vaccinated, and both parents have tested positive with variant as yet unconfirmed.

As the travel part included an unvaccinated minor the whole family should have been in iso at home for 14 days, and seems mostly were given the alert mainly covers the serviced apartment they were staying in.

I suspect we will see calls now for those entering with unvaccinated minors to have to do HQ again, as any unvaccinated adults have to do.

 

[Pushka]

Where did they travel from? Did the child catch it from them?

So the 7th Omicron case in NSW is a child too young to be vaccinated, and both parents have tested positive with variant as yet unconfirmed.

As the travel part included an unvaccinated minor the whole family should have been in iso at home for 14 days, and seems mostly were given the alert mainly covers the serviced apartment they were staying in.

I suspect we will see calls now for those entering with unvaccinated minors to have to do HQ again, as any unvaccinated adults have to do

 

[Lynda2475]

Where did they travel from?

Doesn't say origin other than not Africa but they travelled via DOHA (who knows if same day or overnight). Media has reported cases were in EU and UK before South Africa raised the alarm.

Did the child catch it from them?

No. The child tested positive on arrival first, both parents were negative on arrival and have only tested positive more recently. Likely parents were subsequently infected by the child in their home or had not yet developed a detectable viral load as were fully vaccinated.

** Edited new info from SMH states "the child was in the community before testing positive" However, genomic sequencing is available for the child and not yet the parents it confirms child is source in that household.

 

[Pushka]

Doesn't say origin other than not Africa but they travelled via DOHA (who knows if same day or overnight). Media has reported cases were in EU and UK before South Africa raised the alarm.



No. The child tested positive on arrival, both parents were negative on arrival and have only tested positive more recently. Likely parents were subsequently infected by the child in their home or had not yet developed a detectable viral load as were fully vaccinated.

So likely didn't catch it on the plane if positive on arrival as on planes kids usually don't mix with other passengers without the parent. Could be a flight attendant though.

 

[Lynda2475]

Noting that arrival testing is actual day 1 (within 24 hours of arrival) not at the airport, so if super transmissible small chance caught it on the plane, but id think in the terminal or community pre-flight much more likely.

** Edited SMH article has more detail it looks like these cases picked up in extra testing all recent arrivals were directed to get post discovery of Omicron. They arrived on 23-Nov.

‘Concern’ child caught Omicron on flight to Sydney as eighth case confirmed

Additional cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in Sydney, casting doubts on the effectiveness of the state’s two-tiered quarantine system for international arrivals.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

First Omicron case in a person who has not travelled overseas recently:

"a student at Regents Park Christian School in Western Sydney, has not been overseas and has no links to people who have travelled abroad.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said two other students at the school had "early indications" of Omicron infection and were undergoing further testing."

Number of Omicron cases in NSW rises to 13 as cluster at western Sydney school grows

Four new cases of Omicron are confirmed in NSW, including two more students at the Regents Park Christian School, with urgent testing underway on a further 10 COVID-positive students.

www.abc.net.au

If its in the community, anyway time to stop the extra restrictions and let this milder variant rip, so it eliminates Delta from circulating.

 

[Pushka]

First Omicron case in a person who has not travelled overseas recently:

"a student at Regents Park Christian School in Western Sydney, has not been overseas and has no links to people who have travelled abroad.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said two other students at the school had "early indications" of Omicron infection and were undergoing further testing."

Number of Omicron cases in NSW rises to 13 as cluster at western Sydney school grows

Four new cases of Omicron are confirmed in NSW, including two more students at the Regents Park Christian School, with urgent testing underway on a further 10 COVID-positive students.

www.abc.net.au

If its in the community, anyway time to stop the extra restrictions and let this milder variant rip, so it eliminates Delta from circulating.

They still aren’t in that space just yet. Maybe in a weeks time there will be more confirmation.

 

[jakeseven7]

They still aren’t in that space just yet. Maybe in a weeks time there will be more confirmation.

It’s quite possible Omicron is already circulating in a lot more places than just NSW, especially if it turns out to be another degree milder.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Now 10 Omicron confirmed cases (9 in NSW, 1 in NT) and 2 possible

Victoria
27/11 1252 positives, 57k tests, 299 hospital, 42 ICU
28/11 1061 positives, 52k tests, 283 hospital, 44 ICU
29/11 1007 positives, 48k tests, 300 hospital, 45 ICU
30/11 918 positives, 45k tests, 305 hospital, 41 ICU
1/12 1179 positives, 74k tests, 299 hospital, 43 ICU
2/12 1419 positives, 70k tests, 288 hospital, 41 ICU
3/12 1189 positives, 63k tests, 289 hospital, 43 ICU

NSW
27/11 235 positives, 62k tests, 174 hospital, 26 ICU
28/11 185 positives, 54k tests, 165 hospital, 24 ICU
29/11 150 positives, 47k tests, 170 hospital, 25 ICU
30/11 179 positives, 62k tests, 160 hospital, 26 ICU
1/12 251 positives, 85k tests, 154 hospital, 25 ICU
2/12 271 positives, 81k tests, 144 hospital, 24 ICU
3/12 337 positives, 80k tests, 140 hospital, 25 ICU

ACT
27/11 7 positives, 1.6k tests, 6 hospital, 5 ICU
28/11 7 positives, 1.3k tests, 7 hospital, 5 ICU
29/11 7 positives, 1.5k tests, 7 hospital, 5 ICU
30/11 6 positives, 3.0k tests, 8 hospital, 4 ICU
1/12 4 positives, 1.6k tests, 8 hospital, 3 ICU
2/12 8 positives, 1.7k tests, 7 hospital, 3 ICU
3/12 4 positives, 1.2k tests, 4 hospital, 3 ICU

NT
27/11 2 positives (1 local, 1 overseas), 2.3k tests
28/11 4 positives (3 local, 1 overseas), 1.2k tests
29/11 2 positives (both local), 1.8k tests
30/11 no update
1/12 3 positives (1 local, 2 overseas), 2.5k tests
2/12 1 positive (local, total local outbreak 60), 2.5k tests
3/12 ???

SA
27/11 3 positives, 7.8k tests, 0 hospital
28/11 0 positives, 8.2k tests, 0 hospital
29/11 1 positives, 7.3k tests, 0 hospital
30/11 0 positives, 8.0k tests, 0 hospital
1/12 3 positives, 10.7k tests, 0 hospital
2/12 18 positives, 8.6k tests, 0 hospital
3/12 ???

Qld
27/11 1 positives (non-local), 8.2k tests
28/11 3 positives (all local), 7.1k tests
29/11 5 positives (all non-local), 6.9k tests
30/11 2 positives (both non-local), 9.0k tests
1/12 2 positives (both non-local), 10.4k tests
2/12 3 positives (1 local, 2 non-local), 10.3k tests
3/12 6 positives (all non-local), 10.0k tests

 

[Lynda2475]

It’s quite possible Omicron is already circulating in a lot more places than just NSW, especially if it turns out to be another degree milder.

Yesterday several Vic officials were stating that it is likely already in circulation just not presenting for testing yet, given their increasing cases.

Most Omicron cases detected to date worldwide have been completely asymptomatic and those few with symptoms have been very mild, so less likely a Omicron positive will go to get tested unless they are a close contact or picked up via travel surveillance testing.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Extract from today's Vic DHHS Update (3Dec) on Omicron

Updates​

Omicron variant of concern​

Victoria is maintaining enhanced quarantine arrangements for overseas arrivals to protect the state from the new Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern until more is known about the strain.​

​

There are currently no known cases of the Omicron variant in Victoria.​

​

​

​

As people may recall all viable positive results (ie cases) are genomically sequenced in Victoria. Typically that occurs within a day or so. So the above report would indicate that up until the last batch of genomic results (say a day or so ago) that no sequence has produced a match to the Omicron variant.


Now Omicron will arrive sooner or later in Victoria. It may already be circulating in Victoria, but has not yet been found (ie there are no known Omicron cases).

Omicron may well be causing an unknown infection surge anywhere in Australia, but one thing that Omicron will not be doing is changing known Delta Cases into Omicron Cases and so Omicron will not at all have affected the case history in Victoria (again allowing for the lag in the genomic sequencing of a day or so).

 

[jrfsp]

Sounds like Omi has bolted in NSW.

"NSW Health has confirmed at least three students at a western Sydney school have been infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern, with another ten coronavirus cases at the school under investigation.

The department said in a media release tonight that genomic sequencing had confirmed that two cases of COVID-19 at Regents Park Christian School were the Omicron variant, in addition to an earlier case reported this morning.

Urgent genomic testing is under way on a further 10 cases of coronavirus at the school to determine if they are also the Omicron variant."

 

[MooTime]

Next Stop the southern state Victoria, welcome in Omicrap, we live with covid too & don't discriminate in any way, whatever race/variant you are, your welcome in the home of the Aus Open, F1 GP and Flower & Garden Show!

 

[love_the_life]

ACT confirms the first Omicron case here but hasn't identified if it was acquired in the ACT or NSW. Patient had not travelled overseas.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Omicron now confirmed as 15 (13 NSW, 1 NT, 1 ACT) and a further 10 known positives possible as Omicron

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

3/12 updates

NT - 2 positives (both non-local), 2.7k tests
SA - 4 positives (1 mystery, 1 from known local outbreak, 2 non-local), 10.2k tests, 1 hospital

 

[Must...Fly!]

Omi-yawn...doesn't seem we are any closer to finding out if this is actually any more "dangerous" to anyone let alone those vaccinated...

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Omi-yawn...doesn't seem we are any closer to finding out if this is actually any more "dangerous" to anyone let alone those vaccinated...

On the small sample in Australia of 15 so far, it would appear no. I don't think any have been admitted to hospital so far, which are below the current covid hospitalisation rates segmented by vaccination status and age.

 

[Pushka]

3/12 updates

NT - 2 positives (both non-local), 2.7k tests
SA - 4 positives (1 mystery, 1 from known local outbreak, 2 non-local), 10.2k tests, 1 hospital

In hospital but not because of Covid. He is infectious though.