Victoria records its first known case of Omicron

Victoria's first known case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in a traveller in hotel quarantine in Melbourne.

The Victorian Department of Health is also investigating two likely cases of Omicron which have been discovered in the community in Melbourne.

The cases have a gene that is a signature of the variant of concern.

READ MORE: New 'Omicron-like' version of Omicron variant detected in Queensland

They have been identified in the Casey and Brimbank areas.

Household contacts of the two cases have also tested positive to coronavirus and whole genome sequencing is yet to confirm whether they have the Omicron variant.

None of the cases are linked to international travel and it is currently not known how they got the virus.

The government has advised it is "taking a conservative approach to the designation of their contacts, including in non-household settings".

A number of contacts have been identified and instructed to quarantine for 14 days.

Other people at lower risk of having caught the virus have been told to get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.

While most people who come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case outside their home in Victoria are not required to self-quarantine, the contacts are involved in an 'outbreak of concern', meaning authorities are able to impose a longer quarantine period on them.

A total of 25 Omicron cases have been detected in New South Wales, while two have been found in Queensland.