Spain confirms the first case of omicron variant

The first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 was confirmed in Madrid on Monday by the Microbiology Service of the Gregorio Marañón public hospital.

The omicron variant was found in a 51-year-old man who returned from South Africa on November 28, after a layover in Amsterdam.

“We have managed to fine-tune an ultra-fast procedure that allows us to have the result on the same day. The patient is doing well,” tweeted the laboratory.

Se ha confirmado hoy mismo por secuenciación. Hemos logrado poner a punto un procedimiento ultrarrápido que nos permite tener el resultado en el mismo día. El paciente se encuentra bien. #COVID19 #OmicronVariant

— Microbiología e Infecciosas Gregorio Marañón (@Mic_Inf_Maranon) November 29, 2021

Two other omicron cases were found in Catalonia and are currently being studied at Bellvitge Hospital.

The General Directorate of Public Health is keeping the patients that landed in Madrid from Amsterdam under epidemiological surveillance.

The patient has experienced mild symptoms and is in isolation under quarantine, reported CNN.

Cases of the new variant have spread to different countries around the world since its detection on Friday, forcing health authorities to implement containment measures to prevent further spread.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called omicron a variant “of concern.” However, it is unclear whether the variant is more contagious, more severe, or if it is resistant against vaccines.