Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) has revealed five cases of the new Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in the Maldives.
HEOC said five cases of the Omicron variant were detected in the Maldives through the samples sent for gene sequencing. HEOC said all five cases were detected from tourists visiting the Maldives. The centre further noted 99% of the samples that underwent gene sequencing contained the Delta variant, with the Omicron variant accounting for less than 1%.
Epidemiologist at Health Protection Agency (HPA) Dr. Ibrahim Afzal said samples are collected for gene sequencing from regions and areas with sudden increase in COVID-19 cases. Noting all five cases of the Omicron variant detected so far were imported cases, Dr. Afzal said local transmission of the Omicron variant can only be confirmed after the results of the latest batch sent for gene sequencing are confirmed.
There are currently 21 islands under monitoring across the atolls due to COVID-19, with a combined total of 749 active cases in these islands. HPA has urged the public to exercise precaution when travelling across islands during the upcoming school holidays.