Austria detects 1st suspected case of Omicron COVID-19 variant

Austria has detected its first suspected case of the new Omicron coronavirus variant in the Tirol, authorities said on Saturday. A traveller who returned from South Africa last week tested positive for COVID-19 with indications of the new variant, though confirmation requires further sequencing over the coming days, they added. This comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Austria.