Omicron is raising alarm in many countries around the world, with the World Health Organization (WHO) saying the new variant is a highly transmissible virus of concern.
WHO chief said on Wednesday at least 23 countries from five of six World Health Organization regions have now reported cases of the new omicron variant, and the number is expected to grow.
Africa
South Africa
The Omicron variant was first identified in South Africa, the doctor Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association who first raised the alarm on the Omicron variant said the symptoms she observed in patients are “unusual but mild.”
At first, six cases have been confirmed in South Africa, followed by other 22 Omicron cases, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).
Botswana
Botswana is among the first countries to detect the new Omicron variant, where three first cases have so far been reported.
Mozambique
Mozambique’s government said on Tuesday that it has detected two cases of Omicron variant, pointing out those two cases had no international travel history.
Ghana
Ghana’s Health ministry has detected the first Omicron case in a passenger who arrived at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra following sequencing that was carried out on November 21, according to the director general of the Ghana Health Service.
Nigeria
Nigeria has confirmed two Omicron cases among travelers who returned from South Africa last week.
Europe
Netherlands
Netherlands’ Health authorities said on Sunday they had found at least 13 cases of the new Omicron variant among 61 quarantined travelers who tested positive after arriving from South Africa, according to AFP.
The Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) announced on Tuesday that it had detected the Omicron variant in two samples taken on November 19, before South Africa reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) that it had discovered the new variant.
Belgium
Belgium’s first Omicron case was detected in an unvaccinated individual who had developed symptoms and tested positive on November 22.
After the first Omicron case, on November 26, at least 14 people on flights from Johannesburg and Capetown arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport on November 26 carrying the new variant.
Germany
Germany has detected the four first cases in Southern Germany, after testing positive for the Omicron variant, three of the infected people returned from a business trip in South Africa on November 26 to 27, and the fourth person is a family member of one of the returnees, according to the state public health officials.
UK
The two first cases of the new Omicron variant have been detected on November 27, according to UK’s Health secretary.
As of December 1st, The UK has reported eight new cases of the Omicron variant, taking the total number to 13.
Italy
The first Italian to test positive for the omicron variant was boarding before in a flight from Maputo, Mozambique, he said in a statement on November 28.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic also reported on November 28 the first Omicron case in a woman who had reportedly returned from South Africa.
Portugal
Thirteen cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected among players of the Belenenses SAD football club in Portugal, public broadcaster RTP reported on November 29.
Austria
Austria’s Health Ministry announced on November 29 the first case of the Omicron variant.
Spain
Spain detected two first cases of the Omicron variant on November 30, the first case was found in a man who flew from South Africa from the Netherlands, and the second case was identified in a woman who returned from South Africa.
Sweden
The Public Health Agency announced on November 30 the two first Omicron cases were found in Sweden, both of the cases were coming from South Africa.
Switzerland
The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced on November 30, the three first cases of the Omicron variant, after they were detected in Geneva among arrivals from South Africa.
Norway
Norway’s Health Ministry has identified the first two cases of the Omicron variant on December 1st, the two cases just have returned from a trip in South Africa.
Denmark
The Danish Patient Safety Authority announced on December 1st the first confirmed case of Omicron variant who was part of a large concert on Saturday.
Ireland
The Republic of Ireland confirmed on December 1st the first case of the Omicron variant in an individual who was linked to a travel trip from the south of Africa.
France
France on December 2nd reported its first two cases of the new Omicron after it was detected in an individual returning from Nigeria, and the second case was found in the Haut-Rhin region in an individual returning from South Africa.
Finland
Finnish Health Institute announced on December 2 the first Omicron case, in an individual who returned from Sweden.
Middle East
Israel
On November 27, Israel announced the first Omicron case in Doctor Maor, who is a cardiologist, became the first to test positive for the new Omicron variant in the country.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia announced on December 1st that it detected the first case of the new Omicron variant, in a citizen coming from a North African country.
UAE
The UAE reported its first Omicron case right after Saudi Arabia’s detection of the first case late on December 1st, found in an African woman who just came from an African country.
Asia
Hong Kong
Hong Kong was the first in Asia to announce the first Omicron variant case in a traveler returning from South Africa.
South Korea
South Korea confirmed its first five cases of the new Omicron variant in people returning from Nigeria on November 24.
Japan
Japanese authorities announced on November 30 the first Omicron case in a man returning from Namibia.
Singapore
Singapore’s Health Ministry announced on December 2, the two first Omicron cases, both of them were on the same flight.
India
India reported on December 2 its first two Omicron cases, in two males, aged 66 and 46.
America
Brazil
Brazilian health regulator Anvisa announced on December 1st the two first Omicron variants in two Brazilians who had tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 variant, representing the first reported cases in Latin America.
Both cases were found in a couple arriving in Sao Paulo from South Africa.
US
The US identified its first Omicron case in the state of California, said, on December 1st, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.The patient was a traveler who returned on November 22 from South Africa and tested positive on November 29
Canada
Canada’s first Omicron case was detected in Quebec in a recent traveler from Nigeria on November 28, then two other cases in Ontario.
Another two cases have been detected in Ottawa, bringing the country’s total Omicron cases to five, according to Reuters.
Australia
Australian authorities announced on December 1st the first Omicron confirmed case, in a person who visited a shopping center in Sydney.
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