"Stay calm, get your booster": PM delivers results of emergency cabinet meeting
Image: 9 News
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has strongly urged Australians to wear masks in indoor public settings as part of a suite of new measures to tackle rising COVID cases across the nation.
Mr Morrison gathered with state and territory leaders from noon on Wednesday as part of an emergency national cabinet meeting to discuss the growing Omicron threat.
Previously, national cabinet was not scheduled to meet until February 2022, but rising Covid-19 cases, particularly in NSW, prompted the Prime Minister to call a snap meeting.
The meeting was held virtually, with booster vaccinations and the reintroduction of key restrictions, such as masks, the main topics of discussion.
Following the meeting, Morrison said they “had a positive meeting” and that they are taking Omicron very seriously.
Mr Morrison also said that mask wearing in indoor spaces was highly recommended.
"Whether it's mandated or not, that's what we should be doing," he said.
He further encouraged Australians to move gatherings outdoors where possible.
"People following common sense behaviours is very important."
Mr Morrison said classification of COVID-19 contacts would be standardised between the states and territories.
"We must have a common definition, right across the country, of what is a casual contact, and what are the implications of being a casual contact," he said.
"We cannot have different rules in different places."
He said experts would make a recommendation on the definition of "close contacts" and "casual contacts" in the next fortnight.
The Prime Minister said it was not realistic to use QR codes to completely track COVID-19 outbreaks in areas with high case numbers.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly then said that Australia had not seen a rise in hospitalisations due to Omicron, despite the large increase in case numbers occurring around the country.
He went on to say that there is no doubt that Omicron is replacing Delta in NSW.
The Prime Minister also announced a major change to the booster program as the health system struggles to rollout Australians third doses.
Mr Morrison on Wednesday declared that General Practitioners and Pharmacists would receive $10 extra from the federal government for administering the booster shot.
“I can announce that I have advised the premiers and chief ministers today that we will be increasing the payments to GPs and pharmacists,” he said.
“We'll be increasing them up by $10 a jab.”
Pharmacists are now expected be reimbursed around $26-29 per jab while GPs will received $27-$50.
On the issue of wait times at testing sites, Mr Morrison said it was being considered whether PCR tests would be needed for interstate travellers who had no symptoms, or if rapid tests could be adequate.
Mr Morrison also said the Doherty Institute would be doing further research, while the National Cabinet would reconvene in a fortnight.
"My main message is to stay calm, get your booster, follow the common-sense behavioural measures."
He said it had been agreed Australia was not going back to lockdowns and that Australia was arguably one of the best placed countries in the world to deal with Omicron.