These are samples taken from passengers arriving from South Africa on the 27 November flight. Of the 15 Covid-19 positive samples sent to the Central Health Laboratory, 12 are Omicron variant cases, 2 are Delta variant and 1 is the local B.1.1.318 variant.
14 cases of omicron in our territory
With the 12 cases communicated by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday 15 December, the count is now at 14 cases of this variant on our territory. As a reminder, the Minister of Health has announced at the National Communications Committee on 10 December that 2 cases had been confirmed. The first case was on the flight from South Africa on 27 November and the second was a Tamarin resident who was infected by her spouse, a South African national, who arrived in Mauritius on 18 November. She was tested at Welkin Hospital on 30 November where her results showed an S Gene Drop Out. The sample was sent for sequencing, which revealed that it is the Omicron Variant.
This sequencing exercise took over two weeks. The health status of the positives was not specified. However, in the press release, the Minister of Health reassured that these people have been in quarantine since their arrival on 27 November and that they have not had direct contact with the population.
