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UK authorities identify third person infected with Omicron variant
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FILE PHOTO: A health worker takes a swab from a person in a car at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol, England. /Getty Images

FILE PHOTO: A health worker takes a swab from a person in a car at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol, England. /Getty Images

Authorities in the UK have identified a third person infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant.

According to health officials, the individual tested positive after travelling to the UK and "is linked to travel to southern Africa".

The individual is no longer in the country, they added.

Targeted testing where the individual visited, when they were likely to be infectious, is being undertaken by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

"Our advanced sequencing capabilities enable us to find variants and take rapid action to limit onward spread," UKHSA chief executive Dr. Jenny Harries said.

"It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focused contact tracing.”

On Saturday, Health secretary Sajid Javid confirmed the detection of two cases of the variant which is suspected to be more infectious than previous variants of COVID-19.

Following the confirmation of the cases, UK prime minister Boris Johnson announced a raft of restrictions on travellers to contain the spread of the variant.

Among the measures are the reinstatement of two PCR tests for all international travellers and all close contacts of positive Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their vaccination status.

Additionally, the UK will require all arriving passengers to isolate until they can show a negative PCR test against COVID-19.

Johnson added that there will be a ramping up of mask wearing in shops and indoor settings, including public transport.

The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organization from South Africa on November 24 and has been detected in southern Africa nations Botswana and South Africa.

The emergence of the variant has prompted several nations such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, Australia and European Union nations to announce travel bans or restrictions on the region.

Omicron is considered potentially more dangerous as it has almost twice as many mutations as the Delta variant. However, experts say how much of a concern is still under investigation.

(With input from agencies)

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