A snap meeting of national cabinet has been scheduled as cases rise sharply in newly reopened states but as a tapering of case growth in NSW and Victoria raises hopes for a short sharp outbreak.
An unexpected tapering in cases in NSW and Victoria and continued low severity of disease has experts holding out hope of a mild outbreak caused by the omicron variant, which will be discussed in a snap national cabinet meeting called by the Prime Minister for Wednesday.
But while cases are lifting in the recently reopened states, growth in case numbers in both NSW and Victoria have been broadly flat for the last three days, confounding predictions cases would double every two to three days.
The calling of the pre-Christmas national cabinet meeting came after three leading professors from the Kirby Institutive and the Doherty Institute called for mask mandates and a pause on events with large crowds and alcohol. “Cancelling or at least heavily restricting large indoor events at which people gather in close proximity and alcohol is served will be unpopular, particularly over the Christmas-New Year period, but must be understood as a temporary measure.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said authorities were closely watching the situation and leaders would be updated in an informal meeting of the national cabinet.
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