The new coronavirus variant, Omicron, is spreading in Australia. As per reports, a cluster in Sydney has already grown to 13 cases. Infection was also suspected to have reached the state of Queensland.

Meanwhile, federal authorities are sticking with a plan to reopen the economy in the hope that the new variant proves to be milder than previous strains, but some state and territory governments have moved to tighten their domestic border controls.

Australia reported its first community transmission of Omicron on Friday at a school in Sydney. Authorities are investigating the source and said more cases were expected. Queensland authorities suspected its first Omicron case in a person who traveled from South Africa and that genome sequencing was ongoing.

"The public health unit have ruled out that it is Delta but we haven't been able to confirm if it is Omicron. But it is being treated as if it is," state Health Minister Yvette D'Ath.

On Saturday, authorities in South Australia said that arrivals from Victoria, New South Wales, and the capital territory will be tested.

Australia has had just under 215,000 cases in total and 2,042 deaths.