Estonia testing two Covid-19 samples for omicron variant

In Estonia, the positive Covid-19 test samples of two long-haul travellers are being analysed for the possible presence of the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reports.
The two travellers – one from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and the second from South Africa via Germany – tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on Friday, December 3.
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The two persons, who are vaccinated against Covid-19, are in self-isolation. According to the Estonian Health Board, both samples contained a mutation of the S gene, which is characteristic to the Omicron strain; however, the tests will be sequenced for final confirmation.
The Estonian Health Board noted that currently, arrivals from South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Turkey are obliged to go through PCR testing, when landing in Estonia. All such travellers also have to completed a passenger locator form before crossing the border into Estonia, ERR reports.