Omicron chaos: A list of countries that have reported cases of new variant

Omicron has now been found in at least 24 nations throughout the world, according to the World Health Organization.

A team of WHO officials has been despatched to South Africa's Gauteng area, which is the epicentre of the novel Omicron coronavirus type. They will enhance monitoring and contact tracing efforts. 

Here is a list of countries and states, which have reported cases of the Omicron variant so far. 

Botswana on Sunday said that it had reported 19 cases of the new Covid variant.

"As of today we have recorded a total of 19 cases of the variant," Health Minister Edwin Dikoloti said at a press conference in the capital Gaborone. He further said that most of Botswana's cases have come from abroad.

The new variant, Omicron, has been detected in South Africa.

Blaming the new COVID-19 variant on the surge in new cases, virologist Tulio de Oliveira said ''Unfortunately we have detected a new variant which is a reason for concern in South Africa.''

Calling the variant a cause of "serious concern," Health Minister Joe Phaahla said it was detected among travellers from South Africa.

Belgium became the first country in Europe to report a case of the new variant. 

Belgium's health minister Frank Vandenbroucke reported the new case even as several countries in Europe have been battling the fourth wave.

Two cases of the new Covid-19 strain have been detected in travellers in compulsory quarantine in Hong Kong. While one traveller was from South Africa, the other one came from Canada.
A health department spokesperson revealed that the traveller from South Africa used a mask with a valve that barely filters exhaled air. This may have transmitted the virus to his neighbour when the room door was open.

Israeli health ministry on Friday reported first case of the new Covid variant. The strain was discovered in a genomic sequencing test that took an Israeli who returned from Malawi, the Ministry said.

There is also a suspicion of more cases of infection with the strain, of two Israelis who also returned from abroad, it added.

The British government on Saturday confirmed the existence of two cases of the Omicron variant in the country. The two people are now self isolating. 

UK had banned flights to South Africa after authorities revealed they had discovered the B.1.1.529 variant. 

Dutch authorities said on Sunday at least 13 cases of Omicron variant have been detected among passengers who had landed in the country from South Africa on Friday.

The Netherlands had confirmed 61 coronavirus positive cases from two flights which had arrived at Amsterdam airport. However, the authorities informed that investigations are underway to find out the test results of other passengers.

As of now, three cases of the new Covid variant have been reported in Germany. 

"The sequencing has confirmed the result — the suspected case which was made public yesterday morning is the omicron variant," Kai Klose, Social Affairs Minister in the state of Hesse tweeted.

Liberec's regional hospital has confirmed a case of new strain of Covid. The person is a female. Spokesman Vaclav Ricar told reporters, "My colleagues from the department of genetics and molecular diagnostics confirmed the strain with 90-per cent probability after a sequence analysis."

Austria has recorded the first suspected case of the new Covid variant. Authorities claimed a traveller who returned from South Africa had shown symptoms of the new variant, however, it needs to be confirmed.

Two cases of the new variant have been reported in Denmark so far. 

Two international travellers arriving in Sydney were infected with the developing Omicron strain. 

"Both passengers came to Sydney from South Africa on the evening of Saturday, November 27. They underwent testing on arrival and tested positive for COVID-19 late last night.The two positive cases, who were asymptomatic, are in isolation in the special health accommodation. Both people are fully vaccinated, " NSW Health said in a statement issued on Sunday evening.

A case of Omicron has also been detected in Italy, the National Health Institute said. The patient and his family were in good health, the ISS said.

Canada's first two cases of Omicron have been discovered in Ontario, according to Canada's health minister, after two people who had just travelled from Nigeria tested positive.

They are the first instances in North America to be discovered.

Travellers who visited southern African nations in the previous two weeks are prohibited from entering Canada, according to a prohibition that took effect on Friday.

France's Health Ministry on Sunday said that it had detected eight cases of the Omicron variant across the country. This comes in after the government announced it would tighten restrictions.

France is in the midst of a fifth wave of the virus.

The Health Ministry recommended on Saturday the isolation of any contact person at risk of a possible case or a confirmed case of the Omicron variant, even vaccinated, in documents sent to establishments and health professionals.

Egyptian Mohammed Alatar (L), 31, tries on Ihram, a simple garment representing a state of holiness worn by pilgrims performing the Hajj, at a local store in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, on July 10, 2021, after he won a place to perform the yearly pilgrimage for the 2021 season. 

South Korea recently reported 5 cases of the Omicron variant of Covid. 

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), a fully vaccinated couple tested positive for the variant after arriving last week from Nigeria. After which, two of their family members and a friend also tested positive.

Norway has identified two cases of the new Omicron variant.

The two people who were infected had been on a trip to South Africa. 

Spain detected its first case of the new Omicron strain of Covid after a man recently arrived from South Africa.

The 51-year-old tested positive after arriving at Madrid airport on Sunday, the regional government of Madrid said in a statement.

"The patient has light symptoms and is undergoing quarantine," the statement added.

Portugal identified 13 cases of the Omicron variant, including all players and staff of top division soccer club Belenenses SAD.

This comes after one of the players recently returned from South Africa, health authority DGS said.

The diagnoses were made after the Lisbon club played a Primeira Liga match against Benfica. 

Two new cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in Sweden, reported the Public Health Agency.
The cases were detected in tests taken after these two people arrived from South Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that coronavirus Omicron variant has been found in California. 

The California Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Department of Public Health confirmed the case in a traveller who returned from South Africa on November 22. 

India on Thursday confirmed that two cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been found in the country. 

Both the cases were reported from the southern Karnataka state. Two males, aged 66 and 46, have tested positive. 

Five new cases of the coronavirus variant Omicron have been detected in New York state, according to Governor Kathy Hochul.

With the discovery of these cases, NY has now become the fourth US state with Omicron cases. Other US states where Omicron has been found are California, Colorado, and Minnesota, each with one case. 

One case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in Ireland. 

Dr Cillian de Gascun told a technical briefing that 14 samples were analysed over the weekend. Out of which, eight  samples underwent whole genome sequencing. One out of those eight was confirmed as having the Omicron variant.