The easing of restrictions in various parts of Australia and the opening of international borders coincided with the emergence of a new variant of COVID-19: Omicron.

The new strain of the virus that has caused havoc around the globe is still being studied by scientists, but early evidence from southern Africa – where Omicron emerged – has shown that while vaccines seem to be less effective against this strain it may also be less harmful than earlier variants.

Today on Please Explain, health reporters Lucy Carroll and Timna Jacks join Nathanael Cooper to help understand the variant and how it may impact our lives as we come closer to the festive season.