Covid: Russia reports its first cases of Omicron variant

Russia has confirmed the first two cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in the country in travellers returning from South Africa.

Russia has confirmed the first two cases of the omicron coronavirus variant in the country in travellers who returned from South Africa, health authorities said Monday.

The Russian public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, said a total of 10 people who returned from South Africa recently tested positive for Covid-19, but the new variant has only been confirmed in two cases so far, with other samples still being studied for Omicron.