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National cabinet to be urged to continue indoor mask use as Omicron spreads - ABC News

All Australians could see the return of mask use indoors, with the Prime Minister urging state and territory governments not to impose strict restrictions in response to the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would present "strong recommendations" for mask use during an emergency meeting of national cabinet on Wednesday.

"I have written to the premiers and set out the advice that [medical experts] are providing," he said.

"And there are important messages about the strong recommendation about mask use inside and things like that, and that is very sensible. 

"One of the key messages is, yes, we're going to need to continue to calibrate how we manage this virus and how we live with this virus in the face of Omicron."

The ACT government has already acted ahead of the national cabinet meeting to reintroduce an indoor-mask mandate for Canberrans from Wednesday, requiring masks for indoor retail and work settings, as well as on public transport. 

Queensland and Tasmania also reintroduced mask mandates in recent days.

But Mr Morrison said he did not want the country to return to lockdowns in the face of Omicron, and instead urged people to take personal responsibility for limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Morrison calls for shift from 'mandates to responsibility'

While admitting it was ultimately for the states to decide whether to keep or drop restrictions, Mr Morrison said it was necessary after two years of living with the pandemic for the country to shift from "mandates to responsibility".

"The time for that heavy hand is behind us," Mr Morrison said.

"None of us want to go back to lockdowns … and the way we avoid that is by ensuring that people practise responsible behaviours, because COVID is not going anywhere any time soon. 

"And to live with it over time, we have to do it with a culture of responsibility, not with a culture of control and mandates."

He said that message was particularly directed at younger people, among whom the Omicron variant was spreading most rapidly.

"If you're inside, [use] a bit of distancing," he said.

"You don't need to crush into a mosh pit.

"[Young people] are at parties, nightclubs, hospitality venues. I would encourage them — particularly if they're going to spend time at Christmas with older family members — you want to give that big night out a miss, particularly if you're going to see one of your elderly relatives over Christmas."

Passenger handed mask by staff at train station
The Prime Minister describes a recommendation that masks be used indoors as "very sensible".(AAP: Paul Braven)

PM rejects call to shorten time between second shot and booster

Mr Morrison also rejected a call from some states to reduce the gap between when people received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and when they became eligible for a booster shot.

"Ultimately, the decisions about what the interval should be will be the one the immunisation experts advise us on," he said.

"What I will not do is front run their advice on that issue. They will consider these issues carefully and they will advise the government."

The government's immunisation advisory body, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), recently reduced the interval from six months to five.

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What the experts know about the Omicron variant so far(Norman Swan)

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTEyLTIxL25hdGlvbmFsLWNhYmluZXQtdG8tYmUtdXJnZWQtdG8taW1wbGVtZW50LWluZG9vci1tYXNrLXJ1bGVzLzEwMDcxNjE4ONIBAA?oc=5

2021-12-21 09:10:56Z
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