Coronavirus: Australia sees record daily infections as New Zealand remains ‘Omicron-free’
- Australia is currently battling its biggest, most widespread coronavirus outbreak as the Omicron variant has appeared in every state and territory
- New Zealanders celebrated Christmas with few restrictions, in one of the countries largely untouched by the Omicron variant
Australia celebrated Christmas amid a surge of Covid-19 cases, worse than at any stage of the pandemic, which forced states to reinstate mask mandates and other preventive measures. The Omicron strain is prevalent in some states and is estimated to represent more than 70 per cent of all new cases in Queensland.
In his Christmas message, Prime Minister Scott Morrison referenced Covid-19’s toll on society.
“This pandemic, it continues to buffet us,” Morrison said. “The Omicron variant is just the latest challenge that we have faced. But together, always together and only together, we keep pushing through.”
Summer heat might have discouraged outdoor Christmas feasts in some places. The temperature in Perth in Western Australia was expected to hit 42 degrees Celsius on Saturday, making it the hottest Christmas since records began more than a century ago.
Individual Australian states and territories have posted record daily coronavirus infections as the country celebrates its second Christmas holiday under the pandemic.
New South Wales posted a record of 6,288 coronavirus infections in a day, the state health ministry said Saturday. That number was up against 5,612 infections a day earlier Friday.
The state of Victoria missed out on a record on Saturday, but 2,108 people in the state have had their festive plans foiled after contracting the virus. Six deaths were also reported in Victoria. Queensland announced a new daily record of 765 cases, while Tasmania, an island state south of the Australian mainland, saw a record 33 Covid-19 cases.
The Australian Department of Health has encouraged people to entertain outside or open windows for better ventilation and avoid sharing utensils during meals. Anyone with any symptoms is urged to skip celebrations.
02:32
The ‘Flying Padre’ returns: Australia’s flying pastor delivers holiday cheer to remote communities
Australia is currently battling its biggest, most widespread coronavirus outbreak as the Omicron variant has appeared in every state and territory. All are reintroducing restrictions and updating how they trace and isolate positive cases as infections soar across the country.
Compulsory mask-wearing is required again in most of Australia as regional leaders try to limit the spread of the Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, dozens of domestic flights out of Sydney’s Kingsford Smith airport were cancelled on Friday as frontline staff who are considered close contacts to people infected with the coronavirus are required to have a coronavirus test and isolate.
Omicron-free New Zealand’s Christmas without restrictions
New Zealanders celebrated Christmas in the warmth of midsummer with few restrictions, in one of the few countries in the world largely untouched by the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Ninety-five per cent of adults in New Zealand have had at least one dose of the vaccine, making it one of the world’s most vaccinated populations. The only Omicron cases that have been found in New Zealand have been safely contained at the border.
As Covid-19 spread around the world the past two years, New Zealand used its isolation to its advantage. Border controls kept the worst of the virus at bay and by Christmas this year, New Zealand had recorded 50 deaths in a population of 5.5 million.
02:39
PM Jacinda Ardern dances for joy as New Zealand lifts lockdown after coronavirus 'eliminated'
The Delta variant penetrated New Zealand’s defences in August and its largest city, Auckland, was thrust into lockdown for 188 days. At its peak, the outbreak saw around 220 cases a day. Lately, the daily average has been around 50.
But that success has come at a cost. There were empty chairs at some tables this holiday season because some New Zealanders living and working overseas have not been able to return home due to limits in the country’s managed isolation and quarantine programme.
The traditional dining tables of a northern winter – turkey and all the trimmings – are common in New Zealand. But Kiwis also celebrate in an antipodean manner, with barbecues on beaches fringed by the native pohutukawa tree, which blooms only at Christmas.
Malaysia suspects first local Omicron case as variant spreads
Malaysia has a total of 62 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant, one of which is suspected to be the country’s first incident of local transmission, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Japan’s Kyoto prefecture finds four Omicron cases
Kyoto prefecture in Western Japan detected four new infections of the Omicron coronavirus variant, including three cases of suspected community transmission as their infections routes were unclear, Kyodo news agency reported on Saturday.
Reporting by Reuters, Bloomberg, AP, DPA.
