Germany and Italy confirm first cases of new variant

Omicron discovered in Bavaria and Milan as fears grow of major setback in efforts to end pandemic

GERMANY announced last night that it had two confirmed cases of the omicron Covid variant hours after Britain declared its two cases.

Authorities in the southern state of Bavaria confirmed the two cases, after the travellers who arrived from South Africa four days ago personally sought out authorities to be tested after reading media reports about the variant.

Two other foreign passengers who arrived in Bavaria on a flight from Cape Town on Friday had tested positive for coronavirus and authorities are investigating whether they were infected with the variant. There is a third suspected case in the central region of Hesse.

The Bavarian health ministry asked passengers who came from South Africa on the same flight on Nov 24 to report to their local health department.

Olaf Scholz, the German finance minister, who is expected to be sworn in as successor to Angela Merkel, the outgoing chancellor, next month, stressed yesterday that his coalition would do “everything necessary” to fight “corona and omicron”. “There is nothing which can’t be considered,” he said.

Italy also confirmed its first case of the new variant in Milan, from a woman who had recently visited Mozambique.

The Dutch authorities were scrambling to see if the variant had arrived in the country after 61 people returning from South Africa tested positive.

Last night, Switzerland placed the UK on its “risk country” list, throwing ski holiday plans into chaos. Officials said all UK arrivals must present a negative test result and quarantine for 10 days.

Spain also announced last night that all arrivals from the UK would be required to show proof of vaccination, with only children under 12 exempt.

Shutters are coming down across the world as omicron, which is potentially more contagious and resistant to vaccinations, prompts fears of a major setback in the effort to end the pandemic.

Israel, which has one confirmed case, banned entry to all foreign tourists and blocked Israelis from travelling to countries on its red list. The Czech Republic also identified its first suspected case, in a woman who travelled to Namibia.

Belgium, Hong Kong and Botswana have also recorded cases of the new variant. One of the Hong Kong cases was believed to have become infected by someone who was staying in the opposite room while in a quarantine hotel.

Although as of last night France had recorded no cases, it announced that any person who had been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the variant would have to isolate even if they are fully vaccinated.

America’s Covid chief said yesterday that he “would not be surprised” if the variant was already in the US, but insisted it had not yet been detected.

Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, said that although there was “not any reason to panic”, the variant was to be taken seriously and justified the travel ban against South Africa and seven neighbouring countries. “It may not turn out [to be serious], but you want to be ahead of it,” Dr Fauci told NBC.

When asked if he thought it could already be in the country, Dr Fauci said: “I would not be surprised if it is. We have not detected it yet, but when you have a virus that is showing this degree of transmissibility ... it almost invariably is going to go all over.”

‘You want to be ahead of it. The US has not detected it yet, but it almost invariably is going to go all over’