The Latest Breaking News from Omicron

Queensland health authorities are "cautiously optimistic" about the state of the COVID-19 pandemic now hospitalisations are in decline, saying a "wall of immunity" has been built among the population.

The “shadow lockdown” accompanying the Omicron outbreak should have come as no surprise to Australia’s policy makers. But the type of government support that helped so many individuals and businesses survive the official lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 is absent.

Booster vaccinations for Covid prevented over 100,000 hospitalisations during the Omicron wave, according to analysis by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The Government has appealed for more businesses to apply for the grants, stressing that around £850 million worth of funding remains available.

The Greens and National have both backed a plan to make N95 masks free and health experts say the move would help the country fight Omicron.

Euronet Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ:EEFT) reported fourth-quarter FY21 sales growth of 15% year-on-year to $811.5 million, beating the consensus of $809.4 million. Revenues from the EFT processing segment climbed 63% Y/Y, the epay segment rose 4%, and the Money Transfer Segment segment recorded an 10% increase. The adjusted operating income for the quarter rose…

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news

Face coverings still required in indoor public spaces in Spain; UK records 66,638 daily infections and 206 Covid-linked deaths

South Korea said on Thursday patients with mild coronavirus symptoms will have to treat themselves, aiming to free up medical resources for more serious cases, as new infections hit a fresh high because of the fast spreading Omicron variant.

With two cases of COVID-19 confirmed at a residential facility in Perth, the union for aged care workers is hoping lessons are learned from how the sector handled Omicron in the eastern states.

For many Australians now living with Omicron, "COVID zero" is a distant memory. But not for the Myers family.