Health officials in Australia are worried the potentially dangerous Omicron variant could already be in the country after travellers arriving from southern Africa tested positive for COVID-19 in Northern Territory and Sydney.
Scientists are urgently completing genomic sequencing to figure out if the positive COVID cases are infected with the new coronavirus strain.
The person who tested positive for COVID in the Northern Territory has been in supervised quarantine at the Howard Springs Quarantine Facility, south of Darwin since arriving on Thursday, state Health Minister Natasha Fyles said.
"So there is a very low risk to the community and we wish that person well," Fyles said.
The passenger, who tested positive on Friday, was one of two new cases recorded in the state. The results of the positive case from southern Africa are expected back on Monday.
In New South Wales, health officials say 14 passengers have arrived in Sydney from one of the nine southern African countries - two of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, which has seen urgent genomic sequencing undertaken to determine if they have been infected by the new Omicron variant.
The passengers have been moved into special health accommodation where they will undertake 14 days of quarantine.
Other passengers on the flight may be considered a close contact and will be contacted and requested to get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days.
Australia decided on Saturday to suspend flights and only allow citizens and residents into the country from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi, and the Seychelles.
