ANKARA, Nov 28 — The United Kingdom on Saturday announced that two cases of the COVID-19 variant Omicron recently detected in South Africa, were detected in the country, reported Anadolu Agency (AA).
“We have been made aware by @UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) of two UK cases of the Omicron variant. The two cases are linked and there is a connection with travel to southern Africa,” Sajid Javid, the secretary of state for health and social care, said on Twitter.
The two individuals are now self-isolating with their households, said Javid.
“We are also adding Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola to the travel red list, effective from 4 am Sunday,” said the official, adding that those who have returned from these countries in the past 10 days must isolate and get PCR tests.
“And if you are eligible for your booster jab, now is the time to get it,” he urged people.
This week, South African scientists announced that they had discovered the Omicron variant, which has several mutations that may carry the risk of reinfection. The same variant was also detected in neighbouring Botswana, as well as Hong Kong.
On Friday, the World Health Organisation declared the strain a “variant of concern,” naming it Omicron.
Several countries around the world have now banned flights from over half a dozen Southern African nations, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Eswatini, over fears of the new variant.
Germany on Saturday also confirmed the country’s first two cases of the Omicron variant.
The two people with the newly-discovered variant came to Germany from South Africa on Wednesday, said a statement by the Bavarian State Ministry of Health.
Reports on the new strain prompted the two individuals to get tested for COVID-19, said the statement, adding that they have been in self-isolation since Thursday.
The statement urged those who have been in South Africa in the past 14 days to reduce contact with others, get tested, and contact the health department.
Meanwhile, Italy on Saturday confirmed the first case of the variant.
The patient, who had been fully vaccinated, returned to Italy from Mozambique only days ago, AA reported, quoting the Italian news agency ANSA.
People who had been in contact with the patient are also self-isolating as a precaution, it added
Italy on Saturday announced 12,877 new cases and 93 coronavirus-related deaths.
