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Since the Omicron variant was identified by South African scientists last week, more and more nations are confirming cases of the new strain within their borders.

Australia - which had only just begun reopening its borders and was due to allow vaccinated skilled migrants and international students entry from Wednesday - has paused its plans, after finding six Omicron infections among travellers. Experts there are becoming increasingly divided on how Australia should respond.

Kyle Sheldrick is a doctor and Medical Researcher in New South Wales where the cases were discovered.

"There's this really toxic element in the Australian discourse where people are not only disagreeing with each other but there's this assumption of bad faith: if you don't support a particular restriction, then you want people to die, and if you do support a particular restriction, then you hate freedom."

(Photo: Travellers and flight crew members arrive in Sydney. Credit: Reuters)