At least 17 suspected cases of the Omicron mutation in Norway

At least 17 people are thought to have been infected with the coronavirus strain Omicron during a celebration last week in Oslo last week, after which more than half of the 100 attendees tested positive for covid-19 despite the fact that were vaccinated.

This is a provisional report, which may increase as the virus continues to be sequenced from the samples taken.

“So far 60 people have tested positive for covid-19 with a molecular test and four others with a rapid test,” the Oslo authorities said.

“Seventeen are possible Omicron cases, but they have not been confirmed yet. So far one Omicron case has been confirmed after the sequence,” they added.

100 to 120 people, one of whom had recently visited southern Africa, gathered at a restaurant in Oslo last Friday for a Christmas dinner hosted by their employer, solar power company Scatec.

“All of them were vaccinated, no one showed any symptoms and all of them had self-tests” before the meal, said Tine Ravlo, a local health official.

So far, she added, none of those infected with covid-19 have serious symptoms, with most reporting headaches, sore throats and coughs.

Source: AMPE