The Ashes begins in Brisbane, NSW COVID cases grow, Victoria COVID cases grow, Omicron variant cases grow, Peter Foster arrested in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, George Christensen’s Infowars appearance slammed

Victoria has recorded her first confirmed Omicron case with an international traveler who is currently isolated at a quarantine hotel in Melbourne while two other cases are under investigation in the community.

In a statement, health officials confirmed that the genomic sequencing results released this afternoon confirmed that the traveler was infected with the new strain of COVID-19.

The traveler, who is fully vaccinated and went straight to hotel quarantine after landing in Victoria from the Netherlands, sent back a PCR test on December 4 before developing symptoms.

A second test on December 6th gave a positive result, showing an S-gene failure in the virus. According to the World Health Organization, this is a sign that a person could be infected with Omicron.

Health officials said yesterday they would contact the other passengers on the return flight to make sure they were tested for the virus.

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Two other cases in the towns of Casey and Brimbank have so far returned PCR test results showing the S gene failure. It is believed that none of these cases are related to the international traveler.

The authorities have contacted their household contacts, who also tested positive, and are trying to determine the source of the infection.

Genome sequencing is underway to confirm whether they have contracted the Omicron variant.

The contact tracing is ongoing and would likely lead to closer contacts, authorities said.

“As announced prior to the advent of the Omicron variant, most people who come into contact with a confirmed case outside of their home will not need to self-quarantine, but the Department of Health will continue to deal with emerging worrying outbreaks. Superspreader events “and depending on the evidence, may impose a quarantine period for contacts on a case-by-case basis,” the statement said.

Several close contacts of the suspected Omicron cases have been directed to quarantine for 14 days, while low risk contacts have been directed to be tested and isolated until they get a negative result.

Authorities said the quarantine recommendations could change if genome sequencing shows the cases are not infected with Omicron.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-news-live-nsw-s-omicron-covid-cluster-grows-first-ashes-test-due-to-begin-in-brisbane-20211207-p59fl5.html