DAVID KOCH:
The Federal Government will keep borders shut to international students and other eligible visa holders for around the two weeks, after more passengers tested positive to the new Omicron COVID strain. Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sonya Bennett, joins me now. Doctor, just bring us up to date. What's the very latest that you've heard overnight on this strain?
SONYA BENNETT:
Morning, Kochie. So overnight there have been a few minor developments. I mean, we are seeing increased cases both in southern Africa and overseas, but not huge number of increases in cases just yet. But, though, we are hearing that in countries such as Portugal and Scotland, there has been transmission within those countries. So, previously, most of the cases we knew about had travelled to southern Africa. But we are starting to see transmission in countries now from that, and that's not unexpected. What we really want to know about this virus, and what we should understand more in the coming weeks, is really how severe the clinical illness is that it causes, and whether- and vaccines will continue to protect against that severe illness. And early indications are that it really is appear- does appear to be a mild illness, particularly in vaccinated individuals, so that's reassuring.
DAVID KOCH:
So not as bad as Delta?
SONYA BENNETT:
It's early days. I mean, we're certainly hoping it's not as bad as Delta from a severity spectrum. It may well be. The concerning thing, and why it's been nominated as a variant of concern, is it does appear to be highly transmissible and highly infectious. So if it is as severe as Delta, that will be concerning and could certainly have an impact on clinical and health systems and people's well-being.
DAVID KOCH:
Right.
SONYA BENNETT:
But if the vaccination continues to be- protect against severe disease, and there's no indication and that it won't, then we're well placed in Australia with our high vaccination coverage rates.
NATALIE BARR:
So we've had quite a few variants that have appeared in the world, haven't we, since the beginning of last year. Why is this one grabbing the headlines?
SONYA BENNETT:
Well, as you say, Nat, we've had many, many variants, and that's not unexpected. Viruses, as they do pass through humans, do mutate over time. Only a very, very small minority of those have been variants of concern. Delta was one for obvious reasons. We saw how quickly it did spread around the world. And we've had significant outbreaks in Australia. Omicron is really a variant of concern because it does appear to be spreading rapidly. Now, we don't know enough about that yet. We don't really know how long it was in South Africa. And so that's the sort of information that we need to gather over the next two weeks. Because if a virus spreads rapidly, then there's every chance it could replace Delta as the dominant variant. And so we really need to understand the impact of that.
DAVID KOCH:
At early stages it looks milder than Delta, but as you say, we've got to wait for more information. Health authorities considering bringing forward booster shots, is that the recommendation?
SONYA BENNETT:
Well, the Minister certainly asked our Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to look at that. At the moment, we have a booster program. It's recommended for anyone who's completed their first two doses six months ago, and we'd encourage people to go and get that booster. But ATAGI will look at both the information emerging about Omicron, the new variant, as well as what other countries are doing, to see whether an earlier booster would boost our immune response and further protect against Omicron when we do start to see it transmit. And it's very likely that Australia will see this virus both enter and transmit. We're trying to slow that spread down and gain more information so that it will inform decisions such as this.
DAVID KOCH:
Okay. Sonya, it's been doing our head in. It is called Omicron, isn't it? Not Oh-micron?
SONYA BENNETT:
I've asked the same question, Kochie, …
DAVID KOCH:
[Interrupts] I'm glad.
SONYA BENNETT:
… I certainly pronounce it Omicron.
DAVID KOCH:
Okay, I'm glad.
SONYA BENNETT:
But, that's certainly- I pronounce it Omicron, as do many of my colleagues. But happy to be proven wrong.
DAVID KOCH:
No, you're the expert. We follow you.
NATALIE BARR:
We'll go with you.
DAVID KOCH:
Yep. Thank you. Thank you for your time. Good to see you.
NATALIE BARR:
Okay. Thanks, Sonya.
SONYA BENNETT:
You're welcome.
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