SYDNEY – COVID-19 cases in Australia have been breaking records over the last several days, the surge fuelled by the more transmissible Omicron variant, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted that limiting the spread of the virus comes down to personal responsibility.
“We have got to get past the heavy hand of government and we have got to treat Australians like adults,” Morrison told reporters, urging authorities to shift from “a culture of mandates” when it comes to masks and social distancing rules.
“We’re not going back to lockdowns. We’re going forward to live with this virus with common sense and responsibility.”
Authorities are now aiming to ramp up the rollout of booster shots with Morrison urging states to reopen hundreds of immunisation hubs shut down after demand slowed when double-dose rates in people above 16 years topped 80%.
Despite the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said: “only a fraction” of those cases were ending up in hospitals. The number of people in hospitals has been creeping up but remains far lower than during the Delta wave.
