After the Czech Republic, our next neighbor reports the first case of OMIKRON: The person has returned from South Africa! – Topky.sk

This is a person who, after her return from South Africa (JAR) last week, tested positive for COVID-19 on suspicion of being infected with a new covid variant. A possible confirmation of the positivity of the taken sample requires further sequencing in the coming days, the Tyrolean authorities said.

ForPeace Heger has already discussed the new coronavirus variant with Ursula von der Leyen

Preliminary tests from the Institute of Virology in Innsbruck have led to a “specific suspicion” that a positive PCR test on an individual in Tyrol’s Schwaz district could be related to the omicron variant, the authorities said. The sample will now be sent for further testing to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). AGES test results are expected in the coming days.

The Tyrolean authorities reported that the person had, according to their own statements, had stayed almost exclusively at home since their return from their trip three days ago and currently had no symptoms of the disease. As a precautionary measure, the authorities in Austria have also called for further testing of people who have entered Austria from countries in South Africa in the last 14 days.

The new variant is a cause for concern

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday identified the newly discovered variant of omicron, also known as B.1.1.529, as a “variant of concern”. It is possible that it may be more infectious than the currently globally widespread delta variant. The WHO stated that the first known sample to confirm omicron infection was taken on 9 November in South Africa.

EU member states on Friday “agreed on the need to activate the emergency brake and impose temporary restrictions on all modes of transport to the EU from South Africa,” the Slovenian presidency of the EU Council said on Twitter. However, the implementation of measures is the responsibility of individual member states. Several of them have already done so.

In addition to the Republic of South Africa, cases of infection with this variant have already occurred, for example in Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel. Belgium reported the first case from Europe on Friday. On Saturday, the Czech Republic also announced two “probable” cases, and Germany also reported the first alleged case. In both countries, however, these suspicions have yet to be confirmed by tests.