Media release – Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, 27 November 2021
Additional border security measures to protect Australians
On the basis of medical advice provided by the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Professor Paul Kelly, the Australian Government will implement additional border security measures as a precaution to protect Australians from the new Omicron variant of concern.
These actions are taken on the basis of prevention and are considered proportionate to the risk and consistent with actions being considered by other countries.
1. Effective immediately, anyone who is not a citizen or resident of Australia, or their dependents, and who have been in African countries where the Omicron variant has been detected and spread – within the past 14 days – will not be able to enter Australia.
The countries are: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique.
2. Australian citizens and residents or their dependents arriving from these countries will need to go into immediate supervised quarantine for 14 days subject to jurisdictional arrangements.
3. These restrictions also apply to people, for instance international students and skilled migrants, arriving from our “travel bubbles” who have been in any of the nine countries within the past 14 days.
4. Anyone who has already arrived in Australia and who have been in any of the nine countries within the past 14 days must immediately isolate themselves and get tested for COVID-19 and follow jurisdictional quarantine requirements which will include quarantine for 14 days from the time of departure from southern Africa.
5. The Government will suspend all flights from the nine southern African countries for a period of 14 days as a matter of precaution.
The World Health Organization has declared the B.1.1.529 strain of the virus, now known as the Omicron strain, to be a variant of concern. It was first detected in southern African countries.
The Omicron variant has a high number of mutations within its spike protein, which is particularly concerning.
There are currently no known cases of the Omicron variant in Australia.
The actions taken by the Australian Government to date are precautionary and will remain so until more is known about the severity and transmissibility of the new variant.
The emergence of the Omicron variant is another reason any eligible person in Australia who is not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 should make an appointment – today – to get vaccinated. If you have completed your two-dose primary course of vaccination at least six months ago and haven’t yet had a booster dose, make a booking for the booster now.
People should also continue to practise COVIDSafe measures, including good hand washing and cough and sneeze hygiene and get tested if they have any symptoms of COVID-19.
These new measures were implemented on the recommendations of Australia’s Chief Medical Officer which was informed by a comprehensive risk assessment. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) is aware and actively engaged in discussions.
Australians can be reassured the Australian Government, as it has done throughout the pandemic, is acting on the best medical advice available. If further actions are required the Government will not hesitate to take these actions.
The AHPPC is following international developments very closely and will continue to advise the Government on how to respond to the Omicron variant.
Media release – Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, 27 November 2021
National and local measures introduced in response to COVID-19 variant
Tasmania will introduce additional border measures in response to a new strain (Omicron or B.1.1.529) of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19. This new variant has been identified as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization.
Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said the Tasmanian border restrictions will be in addition to national measures announced by the Australian Government today and will provide an additional buffer to reduce the risk to the Tasmanian community.
Dr Veitch said the Tasmanian measures would prevent entry to Tasmania of any traveller who had been in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi or the Seychelles until they have completed 14 days of supervised quarantine, and the required testing, in the mainland state where they arrived.
Dr Veitch said it is too early to fully understand the transmissibility, severity of illness and effectiveness of current vaccines and treatments for the new variant but it was important to have precautionary measures in place while urgent investigations proceed. Indications of the rapid spread of the new variant in South Africa are a particular concern.
Dr Veitch said Tasmania’s current border restrictions, which require travellers who have been overseas in the 14 days before they arrive in Tasmania to get approval to enter the state, and quarantine for 14 days if approved, mean there is low risk to the Tasmanian community at this stage.
“We have identified only one person in Tasmania who had recently been in any of the southern African countries. They remain in quarantine and have so far tested negative to COVID-19, with further testing to be undertaken,” he said.
“The emergence of new variants highlights the ongoing risk that COVID-19 poses globally and the importance of people continuing to follow the key behaviours which are:
- Ensuring you are fully vaccinated when eligible;
- Getting tested if you experience any cold or flu symptoms;
- Staying home if sick;
- Washing and sanitising hands regularly;
- Using the Check in Tas app.
- Physical distancing when possible;
- Complying with current directions or restrictions.
