The Latest Breaking News from Omicron

‘Available data indicate it causes mild infection’

The recent surge in new cases of infection with the novel coronavirus can partly be attributed to the emergence of the omicron subvariant BA.5, according to an expert advisory body to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

One of the country's leading experts has asked why the Government has not made a new announcement

How long should I wait after a third dose? Should I wait for an Omicron-specific vaccine? Your questions answered

How the most common of the 11 variants compare

Do vaccines and booster shots protect against new variants? Here’s what you need to know

Australia has just expanded access to a second COVID booster to everyone 30 years and over, while recommending it only for people 50 and over. That means it’s up to people aged 30-49 years to decide whether they would like a second booster, but they will not be actively encouraged.

Fainting and fatigue may signal onset of variant, experts say

A total of 2.3 million people are estimate to have had the virus latest figures show

Australia said on Thursday it would expand the rollout of the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines from next week as it battles a steady rise in hospital admissions fuelled by the highly transmissible new Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5.

New Zealand has been in a COVID lull for the past two months, but with the BA.5 variant on the rise and more than 10,000 new daily cases reported this week, it appears we are now at the start of a second Omicron wave.