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Overseas arrivals face new restrictions

Multiple states and territories have announced new measures for incoming travellers in response to the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant overseas.

All overseas arrivals into New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria are now required to get tested and isolate for 72 hours, a precautionary steps which came into effect as of midnight.

South Australia has brought into effect some of the strongest restrictions across the country.

READ MORE: Explainer: What we know about Omicron

There are several new measures which will take effect at midnight tonight.

All internationals travellers and people arriving from high risk locations from within Australia arriving into the state or international travellers transiting through another port directly to South Australia must now undertake 14 days quarantine.

The new directive doesn't indicated whether hotel or home quarantine is required.

READ MORE: Australia slams borders shut to Omicron-exposed African nations

Meanwhile those from low risk or moderate risk LGAs will need to show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours before arrival.

SA Police say the provision allowing people to have a COVID-19 test once they arrive into the state and quarantine until they receive a negative test result has been removed.

Anyone who is unvaccinated and planning to travel to South Australia must apply for an exemption to travel.

The changes, announced by respective state and territory governments on Saturday night, follows the introduction of additional national border security measures by the Australian Government earlier in the day.

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All travellers arriving in to Australia who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi, and the Seychelles during the 14 day period before their arrival must enter supervised quarantine for 14 days.

This is irrespective of a traveller's vaccination status.

Both NSW and Victoria are taking it one step further by announcing that all fully vaccinated travellers who have been in any other overseas country during the two week period before their arrival into the state must travel directly to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 72 hours.

Victoria Health said these changes also apply to unvaccinated children under 12 years old, and unaccompanied minors, and anyone medically exempt from vaccination.

And in Victoria this extends out to anyone the traveller is residing with for the 72 hour quarantine period.

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The ACT government announced that any fully vaccinated overseas travellers arriving as of midnight from countries other than those six Southern African nations must quarantine until 11.59pm on Tuesday, November 30.

This is as opposed to the other states implementing 72 hours from arrival isolation requirements.

All unvaccinated travellers from any overseas country will continue to enter hotel quarantine for 14 days in both states and the ACT.

Additionally, in NSW, all airline cabin crew will be subjected to the same restrictions currently in place for unvaccinated flight attendants, regardless of their vaccination status.

https://twitter.com/ACTHealth/status/1464563669048520707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"All flight crew who have been overseas during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must travel directly to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 14 days or until their departure on another flight that leaves Australia, consistent with the current rules for unvaccinated flight crew," a spokesperson said.

While in Victoria, the rules are different depending on vaccination status and where the flight attendants are based.

All vaccinated Australian-based aircrew who have been to one of the nine Southern African countries must quarantine for 14 days at their place of residence or alternate accommodation until their next flight.

All vaccinated Australian-based aircrew arriving from another international country and have not been to one of the nine countries listed must quarantine at home or their place of residence for 72 hours.

airplane cabin

International aircrew will have to quarantine in Victoria's hotel quarantine program for 72 hours or 14 days – depending on whether they have been in one of the nine countries or not. Testing requirements also apply.

Unvaccinated aircrew must spend 14 days in hotel quarantine or until their next flight.

The Victorian Department of Health say the public health orders will be reviewed after three days and may be extended if necessary, based on public health advice.

"These changes are safe and proportionate measures we can take to protect Victorians from the new Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern, while still allowing overseas travellers to come into Victoria," Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer Deborah Freidman said.

"We'll continue to work with the Commonwealth Government and state and territory colleagues to better understand the potential implications for this new variant and which actions are required to keep Australians protected."

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said authorities around the world "are still investigating the risk posed by this new variant".

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"As a result, the NSW Government will continue to put community safety first by taking these precautionary but important steps until more information becomes available," Mr Perrottet said.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said no cases of the Omicron variant have been identified in NSW to date, but urged everyone to stay vigilant.

"I remind the community that vaccination, social distancing and hand hygiene remain our best defence against COVID," Mr Hazzard said.

Australia slams borders shut to Omicron-exposed African nations

Any non-Australian citizen or their dependents who have been in nine African countries in the past 14 days will not be able to enter Australia following the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant of concern.

The ban applies to anyone who has been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the ban was because of the emergence of the Omicron variant — originally identified as b.1.1.529 — in those countries.

READ MORE: What is the new COVID-19 variant in South Africa

Travellers wait to board a flight at Johannesburg's International Airport in South Africa.

Australian citizens, residents and their dependents from those countries will need to go into immediate supervised quarantine for 14 days.

International students and skilled migrants who have also been in those countries will also need to quarantine.

Anyone who has been in those countries in the past 14 days will be required to immediately quarantine.

All flights from those nations will be immediately suspended for 14 days.

People line up to get on the Air France flight to Paris at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"There are currently no known cases of the Omicron variant in Australia," Mr Hunt said.

"And we'd just note that there are 20 people in quarantine in Howard Springs in the Northern Territory who've arrived from South Africa in the last week."

One person in Howard Springs from South Africa has tested positive, but it is not known if they have the Omicron variant.

Everyone arriving in Australia from overseas will now need to show their 14-day travel history to ensure they haven't been in southern Africa.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said there is not yet any clear indication Omicron is more severe than other variants.

"We do know that it does contain a large number of mutations," Dr Kelly said.

"It is quite different to previous variants that we have been watching."

People lineup to get vaccinated at a shopping mall in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday Nov. 26, 2021.

Mr Hunt was asked by a reporter if the measure was strong enough given there were already reported cases in Belgium and the Netherlands.

"These are strong, swift, decisive, and immediate actions," Mr Hunt said.

"We can move at any time to strengthen or to reduce these requirements based on the medical evidence.

"If more actions are required, we will not hesitate."

Speaking earlier today, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it's "likely" Omicron is more transmissible than Delta and has asked anyone who has entered the state from South Africa to monitor for symptoms.

"Anyone who has come in to NSW has been in South Africa in the last 14 days, we ask you to be very, very aware of your symptoms," he said.

"Contact NSW Health and to self isolate until further instruction.

"It's crucial to keep our community as safe as possible."

READ MORE: Omicron declared COVID-19 'variant of concern' by WHO

Evacuation order issued as flooding and wild weather continue in NSW

An evacuation order has been issued for residents in parts of the New South Wales local government area of Singleton.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is directing people along the Hunter River within Whittingham, Scotts Flat, Glenridding, Dunolly and Combo areas to evacuate the high danger area by 7pm.

Once floodwaters pass 11 metres on the Singleton gauge at Whittingham and Scotts Flat, roads will begin to close.

READ MORE: Warragamba Dam spill puts NSW residents on flood alert

SES in Singleton, NSW monitor river levelsA State Emergency Service member at the Dunolly Bridge Gauge this morning.

The areas affected include Whittingham, Scotts Flat, Whittingham Hall via New Freugh Hill via New England Highway and Range Road, Glenridding, Dunolly and Combo.

"Once floodwater begins inundating the area, road access water, sewerage, power, phones and internet may be lost," an SES spokesperson said.

"If you remain in the area you will be trapped and it may be too dangerous for SES to rescue you.

"Wherever possible, people should go and stay with family or friends, or make other accommodation arrangements."

If residents are unable to do this, an evacuation centre has been set up at Alroy Complex, Dorsman Drive, Singleton Heights.

Warragamba Dam spill puts NSW residents on flood alert Warragamba Dam has started to spill after it reached full capacity.

Residents in low-lying properties have been advised to lift possessions and important items above the predicted flood height.

They should take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with them.

"Leave as early as possible to avoid restricted roads," a spokesperson said.

"Share this information with family, friends and neighbours and help others where possible."

As wet weather continues, flood warnings are in place for New South Wales and Queensland after heavy rainfall overnight.

It comes as the two states received more than a month's worth of rain in a day.

The deluge has caused Sydney's Warragamba Dam to hit capacity and begin to spill.

The dam began spilling just after 9pm last night.

The spill is expected to continue for a week or more.

Hazardous conditions

The weather has turned deadly after a man was killed in central Queensland.

The man's ute was swept away by floodwaters in Hibernia, west of Rockhampton in central Queensland.

A woman is also fighting for life in Sydney after a tree fell on a car at Glen Alpine in the city's south-west.

READ MORE: Experts warn wet weather may bring more mice amid fears of new plague

In the town of Gunnedah in north-eastern NSW, backyards were underwater.

The heavy rainfall and wild weather has caused damage to NSW roads.

A bridge collapsed in the NSW Central West as a result of the deluge.

A car was driving over the Nyrang Creek Bridge near Canowindra as it was collapsing.

The occupants were taken to hospital and were not in a serious condition.

A bridge in the NSW Central West collapsed causing a vehicle to fall in.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has urged residents to pay attention to weather and flood warnings.

"We've had over 34 flood rescues in the last 24 hours that is way too many," he said.

"Please don't drive through floodwaters, please follow the advice you've been given. That will keep you and your family safe."

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) received more than 850 calls for help overnight and performed 34 flood rescues.

Flooding has hit Gunnedah in the NSW north-east.

There are flood warnings in place for NSW inland rivers, and the Hunter, Hawkesbury Nepean Rivers.

Minor flooding is expected for the Hawkesbury Nepean River this afternoon.

It comes just months after the region was hit by devastating floods which destroyed homes and businesses.

Scone in the state's Upper Hunter region has been hit particularly hard with residents told to prepare for evacuations.

In Queensland, there are flood warnings in place for the Dawson River and Theresa Creek.

Australia's east coast has been battered by a weather system that stretches across four states as the November deluge continues.

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) senior meteorologist Jonathan Howe said yesterday the rain had been "relentless" across Queensland and NSW.

READ MORE: Stocks and oil plunge as new COVID-19 variant fears slam global markets

Storms, Newell Highway, north of Moree. Northern Tablelands are expected to receive a months rain in one day. 10th November 2021 Photo Louise Kennerley

NSW

More "unsettled" weather is expected in NSW through the weekend as a trough moves east, the BoM said.

Showers will continue over the east and north today with the potential of a severe thunderstorm in the north-east.

Temperatures will be below average today.

Queensland

The deluge is showing no sign of slowing with severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and rain forecast across the state today.

A trough over central and southern parts of the state will move east today.

There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms on the east coast and far north.

South Australia

The state will remain mostly dry with a chance of rain near the Eyre Peninsula.

Moderate winds are expected.

Western Australia

Showers and thunderstorms are forecast over the north Kimberley.

Tasmania

It will be mostly sunny with light winds.

Northern Territory

It is forecast to be partly cloudy with a high chance of rain and thunderstorms.

Australian Capital Territory

The BoM reports it will be cloudy with a chance of showers.

Bicycle rider dies after fatal Adelaide crash

A 51-year-old man has died after a crash in the Adelaide suburb of Coromandel Valley.

Emergency services were called to Murrays Hill Road near Lyric Place at 10.30am today, after they received reports of a crash between a truck and a bicycle.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

READ MORE: Australia slams borders shut to Omicron-exposed African nations

A bicycle rider has died in the Adelaide suburb of Coromandel Valley.

The truck driver was not injured but was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The bicycle rider, a 51-year-old man from the Adelaide suburb of Findon, died at the scene.

Murrays Hill Road was closed for several hours while police investigated the scene.

The man's death is the 91st life lost on South Australian roads this year, compared to 81 at the same time last year.

Anti-vax protesters take to streets for yet another week

Large crowds have packed Melbourne's CBD in opposition to vaccination mandates, in conjunction with other protests held across the country.

The throngs of protesters covered Bourke Street and Spring Street stretching several blocks away from Parliament House.

Much of the protest is raised by the fear of mandatory vaccinations.

READ MORE: Omicron declared COVID-19 'variant of concern' by WHO

Protesters out in force in Melbourne opposing non-existent vaccine mandates.

The State Government has never expressed any interest in making vaccinations mandatory for all Victorians, although they are required to access many premises, events and retail settings.

Protests also took place in Sydney and on the Gold Coast.

A crowd of people gathered in Broadbeach in Queensland as a part of an organised freedom rally.

Senator Pauline Hanson was in attendance and addressed the crowd.

Thousands of people also gathered in Sydney's Hyde Park and marched through the streets on Saturday morning.

The protests follow similar large rallies last weekend which were held in major cities across Australia.

Five people have died of COVID-19 in Victoria in the past 24 hours, as the state recorded 1252 new COVID-19 cases.

There are 299 people in Victoria hospitalised with COVID-19.

READ MORE: Expert says 'no need to worry' about new COVID-19 variant yet

The mass of protesters waved a variety of flags.

NSW recorded 235 new cases, a slight drop from the 261 recorded yesterday.

There are 174 COVID-19 patients in hospital, 26 of those are in ICU.