2 December: Omicron infections detected in the City of Oslo
Press release: The City of Oslo Agency for Health has confirmed that the Omicron virus variant has been detected following the outbreak that began in the district of Frogner in Oslo.
So far, one person has tested positive for the Omicron variant, and additional cases are anticipated. Contact tracing is underway to limit further infections and to prevent a larger outbreak. The City of Oslo is in constant dialogue with government health authorities.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be infected with the Omicron variant if you:
- Have travelled from a country or region with a higher risk of the variant, and which is specified on the Norwegian Government’s information web pages, or
- You have been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 with a confirmed Omicron variant, or
- You tested positive for a variant other than the Delta variant with a PCR screening test, which requires a more detailed laboratory analysis.
“Laboratories will screen all test specimens they receive for the new virus variant. If the variant is suspected, the laboratory will send the specimen for sequencing. Each specimen will be specifically labelled if the person has been abroad,” says senior physician for infection control, Frode Hagen.
Individuals who have tested positive for the Omicron variant will be required to self-isolate for 7 days from the date the infection was confirmed with the PCR test. This is required regardless of vaccination status. Household members and close contacts must also quarantine for 10 days. A negative PCR test is required on day 7 in order to end the quarantine, regardless of vaccination status.
Take a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms and stay at home if you are ill. If the infection control team asks you to take a rapid antigen test, or if you do a self-test at home, and this is positive, you must also take a PCR test at a testing station. If this test is negative, you must stay at home until you are well. If you have been in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, you must follow the rules that apply to this situation.
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Contact
For the press:
E-mail: media@byr.oslo.kommune.no
Phone: +47 99 28 90 90 (voice calls only, no text messages)
City of Oslo Agency for Health: kommunikasjon@hel.oslo.kommune.no
For the public:
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