“With more than 92 per cent of Victorians 12 years and older double-vaccinated, Victorians have given themselves the strongest chance of living safely with coronavirus and enjoying more freedoms this festive season, while we continue to monitor the Omicron variant,” Mr Merlino said.
There are still concerns about a potential Omicron cluster connected to two popular nightspots in Melbourne’s inner north, with 30 positive COVID-19 cases now linked to the outbreak.
Health authorities said on Saturday that no new Omicron cases had been found in the state, with the total cases of the variant of concern at 19. Of the cases, 13 acquired their infection overseas and six acquired it in Australia.
Public health authorities are continuing genomic sequencing for 16 COVID-19 cases linked to The Peel Hotel in Collingwood and 14 confirmed cases connected to Sircuit Bar in Fitzroy, after one partygoer was later found to be infected with the Omicron variant.
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Just one of the 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases has been identified as carrying the Omicron strain. The other cases are still under investigation.
Though the nation’s chief vaccine advisers have said the COVID-19 situation is “evolving rapidly”, there will be no change to Australia’s booster program, with the gap between second and third doses to stay at five months.
Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Paul Kelly, confirmed on Friday that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) had met on Thursday night, and after hours of deliberations opted to keep the interval before the booster shot to five months for most Australians.
“ATAGI recognises that the epidemiological situation and evidence regarding boosters is evolving rapidly and will frequently review the timing of booster doses,” a statement said.
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Major travel restriction scrapped as Victoria records 1504 coronavirus cases, seven deaths
Source: Philippines Alive
