Just when you thought it was safe to book domestic and international travel, Australia has joined a number of other nations by imposing new restrictions on people from nine African countries over concerns about the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.

But why has this version of Coronavirus caused such international panic less than one week after being reported to the World Health Organisation, and what do we really know about how dangerous it is?

The Quicky speaks to an infectious diseases specialist and a travel expert to find out everything you need to know about Omicron, and how it might impact both your health and your travel plans over the holidays.

CREDITS 

Host: Claire Murphy

With thanks to: 

Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayake - Infectious Diseases Expert based at the Australian National University in Canberra

Dean Long - CEO of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA)

Producer: Claire Murphy

Executive Producer: Siobhán Moran-McFarlane

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

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