THE SQUIZ
The World Health Organization has issued a stark warning about the latest COVID variant and says it’s concerned that not enough is being done to tackle it. WHO boss Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says we can’t rely on vaccines alone to stop the spread. “Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril,” he said.

SO OMICRON’S A THING?
Health officials worldwide say it is, even though confirmed numbers are low. Yesterday, our Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said there are 109 officially confirmed cases of Omicron in Oz. But there are concerns here and abroad that Omicron is set to become the dominant strain of COVID – and the worry is there’s still a lot we don’t know about it. Kelly says “early reports indicate mild disease, at least in the younger population.” And “current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death,” he says. But it is believed to be more transmissible, and the WHO wants to see more action – just as developed nations relax restrictions as COVID vaccination rates reach high levels.

AND THAT’S WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE IN OZ, RIGHT?
It is, and NSW is a good example. The state is 93.3% fully vaccinated, and restrictions were eased for unvaccinated people yesterday – just as new infections are rising. Health Minister Brad Hazzard says we’ll see more of that with the state predicted to reach 25,000 new infections a day by the end of January. So the ‘living with COVID’ thing is a fundamental change in approach, and NSW isn’t the only state moving on. Victoria is easing restrictions, and both Queensland and Tassie opened their borders this week with Western Oz to follow. But with Omicron on the rise and state/territory governments’ track records of short notice border closures/lockdowns/restrictions, you can forgive Aussies for contracting a case of the Chrissy jitters. As for staying COVID-safe as you socialise (if your get-together is still on…), political leaders and health officials are urging personal responsibility. And it wouldn’t be COVID if the rules weren’t different around the country – a ready-reckoner is here.