Health officials have ordered genomic sequencing after two international travellers from southern Africa arrived at Sydney Airport on Saturday tested positive for coronavirus.Urgent tests are being carried out to determine if the travellers were infected with the Omicron variant.NSW is set to ease restrictions on December 15 or when the state reaches 95 per cent double vaccination rates.“At the moment we’re sticking to that plan,” Mr Perrottet told Sky News on Sunday.“There are obviously challenges that will always come our way. This is just another example that Covid is going to be with us for some time.“The best thing we can do as a state is keep that vaccination level as high as possible. We’re rolling out booster shots across the state.”From December 15, restrictions will ease for unvaccinated people while masks will only be required for public transport, on planes, at airports and for unvaccinated front-of-house hospitality staff.The emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is a reminder there is a “long journey to go” in the pandemic, according to NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. “We’ve had 15 people from South Africa, or one of those related countries, fly in last night, on those flights two have been tested positive for COVID,” Mr Perrottet told Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell. “Those passengers are currently in quarantine, in a health facility, as we work through that and the health teams are currently doing the genomic sequencing just to determine what strain of COVID it is. Mr Perrottet said the new variant hadn’t affected the state’s reopening plan yet, telling Sky News Australia the government would be “sticking to that plan”. As well, QR code check-ins will only be required for high-risk venues such as hospitals, aged care facilities, gyms, places or worship and bars.“This is just a reminder that there is a long journey to go,” the Premier said.“We think we’ve always had a fair and balanced approach here in NSW — balancing the economy with the health measures.”
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