New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has said there is a "possible" third case of the Omicron Covid variant in the state, after 141 people arrived in Sydney from affected African countries.
Two cases had previously been confirmed.
Mr Perrottet said the 141 passengers, who had arrived in five flights, were currently in quarantine.
LIVE UPDATES: PM calls National Cabinet meeting over Omicron variant
https://twitter.com/cokeefe9/status/1465075048445005825The Premier said the state was working closely with the federal government, but continued to play down the prospect of heavier restrictions.
"We don't just need to learn to live alongside COVID, we need to learn to live alongside the variants as well," Mr Perrottet said.
He said a reintroduction of hotel quarantine for all international arrivals was not a prospect.
Border restrictions introduced yesterday mean any Australians who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi, and the Seychelles in the past 14 days must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.
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National Cabinet is set to meet today or tomorrow to discuss the issue.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was important to "stay calm".
"It's obviously a variant of concern. It's not first one we've had," Mr Morrison told Today.
He said the fight against COVID-19 was no longer about case numbers but about the severity of the illness and how the health system managed it.
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"With this variant, we know it could be more transmissible, but we also know it's proving to be less severe," Mr Morrison said.
"So we just take this one step at a time, get the best information, and make calm, sensible decisions."
Mr Morrison said the government was not ruling out further restrictions on international travel.
"We will make decisions based on the best information," Mr Morrison said.
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