'If you feel uncomfortable about going out in other public spaces, well, you can choose to stay home.'
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been told twice in as many days he was a casual contact of a COVID-19 case but tested negative as he urged Australians to "go about your lives".
The remarks come as New South Wales reported a record 1,742 new local COVID-19 cases amid predictions the tally could soar to 25,000 infections a day next month, and Victoria recorded 1,622 new cases alongside nine deaths.He said: "If you feel uncomfortable about going out in other public spaces, well, you can choose to stay home.
"If you're feeling uncertain, then it's not compulsory to go out. It's not compulsory not to wear a mask either." After a series of super-spreader events, the Hunter is the epicentre of the Omicron-fuelled outbreak, reporting 633 new cases to 8pm on Wednesday.