Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the Corona virus variant B.1.1529 or Omicron as a “variant of concern” (VOC) since Friday (11/26/2021).
The WHO noted that this new variant is likely to spread more rapidly than any previous variant, and so far fewer than 100 sample sequences have been reported.
Omicron, which was first discovered in South Africa, is said to be a variant that has many strains or mutations. The number exceeds the strains of the Alpha, Beta, to Delta variants that still dominate today.
Omicron was initially confirmed in South Africa (South Africa). Most of the cases in South Africa have also come from its most populous province, Gauteng, of which Johannesburg is the capital. Three cases of infection were also reported in Botswana.
It is known that Omicron has also been detected in several other regions and countries. The following is a list, as compiled from various sources.
Hong Kong
The case of the Omicron variant in Hong Kong emerged through a traveler who came from South Africa. Apart from that, there have also been other cases identified in travelers who have recently traveled from the Quarantine.
According to the Hong Kong government, Thursday (11/25/2021), the two travelers were quarantined in the same hotel with opposite rooms.
It is alleged that travelers from South Africa were wearing masks with valves that did not filter the air and may have transmitted the virus to their neighbors when the hotel room door opened.
Twelve people living in rooms close to the two travelers will now have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at a government facility.
Belgium
Belgium has confirmed cases of the Omicron variant. Leading virologist Marc Van Ranst, who works with the Rega Institute for Medical Research, said the sample was confirmed as novel variant B.1.1529 in a traveler returning from Egypt on Nov. 11. The patient first showed symptoms on November 22.
Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke told reporters the individual was not vaccinated.
“This is a suspicious variant. We don’t know if it is a very dangerous variant,” Vandenbroucke said, quoted by Reuters.
Israel has identified cases of a Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations that were first detected in South Africa, according to the health ministry, Friday (11/27/2021).
“A variant found in southern African countries has been identified in Israel,” the health ministry said.
They also said the case was recorded “in someone who returned from Malawi,” with “two more cases of people returning from overseas” placed in quarantine.
Dutch
Dutch health authorities said that 61 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday tested positive for Covid-19.
They began carrying out further testing on Saturday morning to see if there was infection with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The Dutch Ministry of Health later said Saturday morning 61 tests had come back positive.
“Travelers who test positive will be placed in isolation at a hotel in or near Schiphol,” health authorities said in a statement.
“From the positive test results, we are researching as quickly as possible whether it is the new variant of concern, now named ‘Omicron’,” he added.
German
A German regional official said health authorities had identified the country’s first suspected case of the new Covid-19 variant, in a person who returned from South Africa on Saturday.
“The Omicron variant has most likely arrived in Germany,” Kai Klose, minister of social affairs in the western state of Hesse, tweeted, referring to the strain first detected in southern Africa.
Klose said Friday night’s tests on travelers who had returned to Germany from South Africa revealed “some typical Omicron mutations”.
“Due to strong suspicions, the person has been isolated at home. The full sequence remains to be finalized,” he added.
(tfa/roy)
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