On Tuesday, November 30, the reference laboratory at the National Institute of Public Health received two samples of the virus from travelers to Norway from South Africa. Initial analyzes indicate that they are infected with the omicron variant.
The persons in question flew to Oslo airport. They have been staying in quarantine hotels in Gardermoen since their arrival. On November 26-28, they flew from South Africa to Norway on two different planes.
You have to take the right steps
Both infected are isolated in a quarantine hotel and being watched. They both had only mild symptoms and required no hospitalization. Close contacts of these people are monitored in accordance with current procedures. Infection tracking on relevant flights was initiated by the infection tracking team at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
- We are expecting confirmatory sequencing results today. Based on the results of the screening tests at FHI, the samples are likely cases with a omicron, says the department director at the National Institute of Public Health, Vold Line.
The third study, announced by the FHI yesterday, has yet to reach the National Institute of Public Health.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health receives many inquiries and samples from the reference laboratory
- It's not unexpected. We now receive messages from many municipalities asking for help in assessing whether infected people in the municipality may be infected with the new variant, says Line Vold.
Norwegian Institute of Health The public body receives on an ongoing basis, in accordance with procedures, a series of samples that are positive for SARS-CoV-2. The samples received require clarification as to whether they contain the omicron variant.
- Several microbiology laboratories in Norway are currently working on investigating a possible infection with the omicron variant. We await notification of more cases in the coming days. The most important thing now is that infected people and their close contacts respect the rules of isolation and quarantine, says Vold.
Omikron also confirmed in the municipality of Øygarden
Today, the municipality of Øygarden announced that it has also confirmed two people infected with the omicron variant.
Source: National Institute of Public Health
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