A first suspected case of the new variant strain Omicron of the coronavirus was detected in the area of Tyrol in Austria, as announced late Saturday by the local authorities.
The suspicious case concerns a traveler who returned from South Africa last week and who tested positive for covid-19, with indications that he has been screened by the new variant, although confirmation is expected in the coming days, the Tyrol authorities said.
In Austria, a lockdown has been in force since Monday due to the rapid rise in cases of covid-19.
Initial tests performed by the Innsburg Institute of Virology have led to “serious suspicion” that the case may be linked to the Omicron variant.
Samples will now be sent to the Austrian Food and Safety Authority (AGES) for further testing.
“The result from AGES is expected in the coming days,” said Elmar Rizoli, head of the Tyrol pandemic management team.
“The case, as he has stated based on current information, has remained almost exclusively at home since he returned from his trip three days ago and currently shows no symptoms.”
Authorities have called for more tests to be carried out on people who have returned to Austria in the last 14 days from countries in southern Africa.
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