Morrison schedules emergency meeting over omicron

Coronavirus cases surged across Australia on Wednesday as an outbreak of the omicron variant exploded, prompting Prime Minister Scott Morrison to schedule an emergency national cabinet meeting.New infections in Sydney and surrounding parts of New South Wales state skyrocketed to more than 11,000, up from 6,000 a day earlier. More than three-quarters of Australians are fully vaccinated, and just how deadly the latest outbreak will prove remains to be seen.