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Australia’s journey ban to a number of southern African international locations as a result of outbreak of the Omicron variant has been labelled as discriminatory by a senior diplomat.
South Africa’s excessive commissioner to Australia, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, mentioned the ban wanted to be overturned as a consequence of giant numbers of Omicron instances being detected in different continents and never simply in components of Africa.
“We imagine it’s discrimination, as a result of the one distinction is these international locations [on the travel ban list] are on the African continent,” he instructed ABC Radio on Monday. “The ban is unfair, there is no such thing as a proof the ban works, the World Health Group confirms that.”
The travel ban to nine southern African nations was introduced within the wake of the Omicron variant being detected. It additionally led to a two-week delay to the entry of visa holders and not using a medical exemption, which is now set to happen from 15 December.
Regardless of the pause on worldwide arrivals, 250 absolutely vaccinated college students will arrive on Monday in Sydney as a part of a New South Wales authorities pilot program. The arrivals will nonetheless have to isolate in pupil lodging for 3 days.
There have been 15 instances of Omicron detected in NSW, whereas two have been recognized within the Australian Capital Territory and one within the Northern Territory.
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The finance minister, Simon Birmingham, mentioned whereas the federal government had been cautious in regards to the arrival of Omicron, the steps had been essential to assess the scenario.
“Evidently loads of advisers are indicating that vaccines proceed to offer robust ranges of safety, and it’s why folks ought to get vaccinated in the event that they haven’t executed so already,” Birmingham instructed ABC TV.
“We’re now on the level the place we’re some of the extremely vaccinated international locations on the planet.”
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