At least 50 in Norway infected with omicron variant after company’s holiday party

Norwegian officials said at least 50 people have been infected with the new omicron variant of the coronavirus, The Associated Press reported

Officials said on Thursday the new cases were connected to a company’s holiday party at a restaurant in the capital of Oslo. 

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) said in a statement that the infected individuals live in Oslo and surrounding municipalities, according to the AP. 

The Oslo Municipality said more omicron virus cases are expected, with officials conducting a search to trace transmission routes from the restaurant party. 

This comes as the U.S., Singapore, India and Greece have reported their first cases of the omicron variant, the AP reported. 

South African health officials at a media briefing last week confirmed the discovery of the new variant, formerly called B.1.1529, saying it’s “very different” from past mutations from the virus. 

Several countries have implemented travel bans from Southern African countries, where the new COVID-19 variant was first detected. 

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said on Thursday that quick detection and reporting on the new variant have “bought the world time” to combat the latest spread, the AP noted.