Fears about Omicron spreading in Australia has resulted in tougher penalties being introduced for international travellers who breach new quarantine rules.
The increased fines come into effect in NSW on Wednesday as state and territory leaders agreed to avoid more onerous restrictions until more information on the variant becomes available.
Instead, international travellers arriving in NSW and Victoria will need to isolate for 72 hours and take a COVID-19 PCR test.
A second test must be taken on day six after arriving in NSW, and between days five and seven in Victoria, even after leaving quarantine.
NSW has increased its fines to $5,000 for those who fail to comply with quarantine or testing requirements, up from $1,000. The fine for corporations breaching requirements has been doubled to $10,000.
International travellers arriving in NSW and Victoria will need to isolate for 72 hours and take a COVID-19 PCR test. Pictured: A traveller wearing personal protective equipment arrive at Melbourne's international airport
Travellers and flight crew members arrive at the international terminal at Sydney Airport. NSW has increased its fines to $5000 for those who fail to comply with quarantine or testing requirements, while the fine for corporations has been doubled to $10,000
A Covid-19 testing clinic at Sydney Airport tests a passenger as the number of Omicron cases in NSW reached five people
NSW confirmed its latest case of Omicron on Tuesday, a woman in her 30s who arrived into Sydney on Qatar Airways flight QR908 on Thursday, November 25.
She is fully vaccinated by NSW Health said the woman had visited a number of venues in Sydney before returning home to the Central Coast.
'NSW Health can officially confirm the traveller who recently arrived in NSW and is isolating at home on the Central Coast has been infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern,' the department said in a statement.
The woman had been in southern Africa before arriving in Australia.
She is now isolating at home on the Central Coast.
There are now five identified Omicron cases in NSW. The Northern Territory also confirmed a case of the variant yesterday.
People arriving from nine southern Africa countries - South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi, and the Seychelles - must undergo 14 days' quarantine after arriving into any Australian state or territory.
A fully vaccinated woman who arrived on Qatar Airways flight on November 25 and has tested positive to Omicron visited a number of venues in Sydney and on the NSW Central Coast, including Coles Top Ryde (pictured)
