THE SQUIZ
There are plenty of nerves about the new variant of concern, but PM Scott Morrison says Australia’s response to Omicron will be “sensible, balanced and proportionate”. The Federal Government has delayed plans to ease border restrictions, meaning visa holders won’t be able to fly to Australia as planned from tomorrow, along with international students and skilled workers. At this stage, that’s set to ease from 15 December. Restrictions on arrivals from 9 African countries are already in place but reports say there are no plans to close the international border to Australian citizens. Overnight, the World Health Organization has warned that the strain poses a “very high global risk“, but there is hope that the Omicron variant could be “relatively mild compared with previous versions” of COVID, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says. 

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR AUSSIES WHO WANT TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS?
Good question. True to form, the states and territories have reacted in different ways, but there might be some clarity later today with National Cabinet convening to hammer out a national response. For his part, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the timeframe for booster shots could be tightened in light of the new strain. “We’re prepared with supplies,” he says. Despite an air of calm, it’s little surprise that many living abroad say there’s a rising sense of dread about getting home. Reports say that many are scrambling to get on flights back home or cancel their Christmas travel plans altogether.

YEAH, ‘COS OTHER NATIONS ARE CRACKING DOWN…
So keep in mind that COVID appears to surge in winter, so you can understand that many nations in the northern hemisphere are worried…  Japan is one example – it’s banned all incoming foreign travellers for a month. Israel has done the same thing. In the UK, masks are back and the gap between 2nd COVID jabs and boosters is being reduced from 6 to 3 months. Across the Atlantic, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency in response to the new variant, which hasn’t officially been found yet in America. “It’s coming,” she declared. Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa wants travel bans overturned ASAP because they have “no scientific basis”. All that and Omicron was officially reported to the WHO just last Wednesday…