Health authorities in NSW have traced the source of mystery Omicron cluster in Sydney to Nigeria, as six new cases of the virus variant were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm (local time) yesterday.
A woman wearing a mask walks past an image of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Photo: AFP
NSW Health has identified a total of 31 Omicron infections in the past three weeks - 20 of which are linked to two schools and a rock climbing gym in Sydney's southwest.
The source of the so-called Regents Park Omicron cluster had puzzled authorities since the first case was discovered last Thursday.
That infection, a student at Regents Park Cristian School, or knowingly come into contact with anyone who had been abroad.
It was Australia's first recorded community transmission of the variant, which was initially identified in southern Africa.
In a statement, NSW Health said it "believed" the 20 cases were sparked by a returned traveller who arrived in Sydney from Doha on 23 November, and had spent time in Nigeria.
None of NSW's Omicron vases have been admitted to hospital.
A total of 260 new Covid-19 infections were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday.
Six of them were the Omicron variant.
There are a total of 155 patients with Covid-19 in the state's hospitals, with 28 in intensive care.
Five people are on ventilators.
There were 58,706 Covid-19 tests in the reporting period.
The Omicron variant was first identified in southern Africa and non-Australian citizens from eight countries there have been banned from travelling Down Under.
Anyone who arrives in Australia and has been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi must quarantine for 14 days.
For the first time since June, unvaccinated people in NSW are on Monday due to be given a swathe of new freedoms.
It comes as the state's vaccination rate edges higher, with 94.7 per cent of those aged 16 and over having had at least one dose of a Covid-19 jab.
- ABC