Ómicron: at least 17 suspected cases of the new variant of the coronavirus in Oslo after a party

At least 17 people who attended a party in Oslo are suspected cases of the omicron variant of coronavirus covid-19, after more than half of the 100 participants were tested positive for the coronavirus, despite all being vaccinated, the mayor’s office reported on Friday.

This is a tentative number that could increase as sequencing testing progresses.

“So far 60 people have tested positive (for covid-19) in PCR tests, and four with the antigens. Seventeen probably with omicron, but this has to be confirmed. So far there is a confirmed case of omicron after sequencing “Oslo authorities said in a statement.

Between 100 and 120 people – all of them already vaccinated – gathered last Friday at a Christmas party hosted by their employer, solar producer Scatec.

One of the attendees had recently traveled to southern Africa.

“All were vaccinated, none had symptoms and all had performed self-tests” before dinner, Tine Ravlo, an official with the municipal health authority, told AFP.

“Everything was in order and no rule was violated”, Indian.

So far none of the attendees have developed a serious picture, Ravlo said. Most of them have mild symptoms such as headache, throat swelling, and cough.

Suspicions that the infections are caused by the omicron variant began after a sequencing of some of the tests and this process has not yet finished.

This implies that the number of confirmed cases with the new variant could increase and more results are expected this Friday.

On Thursday, following the detection of this suspected omicron outbreak, the Norwegian government announced a series of sanitary restrictions in Oslo and the surrounding areas, which came into effect at midnight (2300 GMT).

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