{"id":24338,"date":"2021-12-07T15:24:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T20:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24338"},"modified":"2021-12-08T12:26:19","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T17:26:19","slug":"first-cases-of-omicron-variant-found-in-the-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24338","title":{"rendered":"First Cases Of Omicron Variant Found In The North"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Department of Health said all three positive cases have a link to travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first Omicron variant cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three Omicron cases have been confirmed in total, the department said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two are from same household in the greater Belfast area and a third unconnected case is in the South Eastern Trust area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Health said all three positive cases have a link to travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief medical officer Sir Michael McBride said: \u201cThis is a development we have been expecting and preparing for since we were first made aware of the Omicron variant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTargeted actions by the Public Health Agency \u2013 including testing and enhanced contact tracing \u2013 are ongoing to investigate and assess these cases. There is no evidence at this time of wider community transmission in Northern Ireland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is not a time for panic, but for sustained caution. We are awaiting further data on this new variant and the extent of the public health threat it represents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is undoubtedly a cause for concern and has the potential to spread rapidly, adding significantly to the already severe pressures on health and social care services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will continue to liaise closely with public health colleagues across these islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiven the evidence of community transmission of Omicron elsewhere in the Common Travel Area, we would once again advise people to take a Lateral Flow Covid-19 test before travelling to Northern Ireland from England, Scotland, Wales or the Republic of Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chief medical officer urged people to continue following public health advice.<\/p>\n

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