Australian PM says no to lockdown amid Omicron outbreak

Australia eased its lockdown and border restrictions just a week ago, on December 15, and the country’s government is already caught in the crossfires of the Omicron outbreak and health experts urging for a return to lockdown.

Australia yesterday reported its highest new daily caseload of the pandemic. Talking to the media about how the government plans to tackle the jump in cases, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that a return to lockdowns, tight social restrictions and fines is not the answer.

In a press conference post the emergency National Cabinet meeting to discuss the rising infections, Morrison stated that it was time “get past the heavy hand of government”, vowing to “treat Australians as adults”.

He added “We have to move from a culture of mandates to a culture of responsibility. That's how we live with the virus into the future."

The comments came soon after New South Wales reported 3,057 cases in the 24 hours to 8 p.m. local time Monday - a record for daily infections in the country. 284 people suffering from COVID-19 were hospitalized in the state, with 39 patients in intensive care, revealed a CNN report. Further, Queensland state health authorities warned they are seeing a doubling in cases every two days and Victoria reported 1,245 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths on Tuesday.

While WHO has warned against the “significantly faster” spread of Omicron, in comparison to the Delta variant, scientists remain unsure of the impact of the variant and the effectiveness of vaccines against it. Yet, the government strongly believes that the nation is better equipped to tackle the outbreak, with vaccination changing the game.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet told the media, "One of the most powerful reflexes is the feeling that with every new case, we should lock everything down," Perrottet said. "But this is not December 2019, and since the virus first emerged, one thing above all else has changed the game: vaccination."

He added that if the new outbreak threatens to overwhelm health services the state will change its approach, but that "it is time to shift the balance back to personal responsibility."

However, amid record high cases being reported, health experts are worried about this approach. Dr Omar Khorshid, the President of the Australian Medical Association, said this was a "reckless" approach that is putting lives at risk.

"DIY contact tracing, watered-down check-in requirements, the abandonment of mask wearing mandates, and the removal of density limits are together a recipe for disaster and by the time hospital admissions and ICU cases grow beyond whatever benchmark he is working to - it will be too late," said Khorshid in a statement.

Additionally, health ministers in New South Wales and Victoria have called on the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to make ``specific determinations'' for accelerated booster programs in both states in part to stay ahead of the new strain. The advisory group is also reportedly considering changing the definition of ``fully vaccinated'' to mean those who have had a booster shot in addition to two vaccine doses.

While the government is entrusting the population to act responsibly amid record high cases, after recent easing of lockdown restrictions, the decision to call the workforce back to work or extend remote working rests in the hands of employers. The future of work remains undecided for Australia. Amid persistent uncertainties, how the workforce, and broader population respond to the PM’s expectation remains to be seen.