A total of four Norwegians have been confirmed to be infected with omicron – a mutation of the coronavirus as the first was reported in South Africa.
In addition, several dozen Norwegians are suspected of being infected with the new variant.
One who himself suspects he is infected with the omikron virus is Norwegian Andreas Saaghus. He is quarantined in a hotel room in Cape Town after testing positive for corona while on a business trip.
– Mild SYMPTOMS: Andreas Saaghus says it is highly likely that he is infected with the omicron variant, after his colleagues got it confirmed. All three have only experienced mild symptoms, according to Saaghus. Photo: Private
–
– I have not received confirmation directly, but I traveled with two Swedish colleagues, who came home just before the borders closed, and they have received confirmation that they had omikron, he says to TV 2.
The three colleagues became ill at the same time, according to Saaghus.
– So then it is natural to think that this is the variant we have got the whole gang, he points out.
Furthermore, he says that both he and his colleagues have only experienced mild symptoms.
– I’m fine, my neck hurts a little, but it’s mostly. I have been vaccinated twice, so it certainly helps, he says to TV 2.
Uncertain future
Before he can go home, he must take a negative test, which Saaghus expects can take up to two weeks.
– I need a negative test to be able to travel, so we may have to stay here a few more weeks, he says.
And adds:
– I have to be in quarantine until Saturday, then it has been ten days since the first symptoms. But we are simply waiting. We have a return ticket on December 9, beyond that we do not quite know.
– Unfortunate if the vaccine effect is reduced
Assistant health director Espen Rostrup Nakstad compares the omicron chaos with when the world faced both the alpha and delta variants.
The information the health authorities have now points to the new variant being more contagious, but what it brings is too early to say, according to Nakstad.
– It is unfortunate if the vaccine effect is reduced or you become more seriously ill, but if you become less seriously ill, it is not as unfortunate, says the assistant health director.
And adds:
– We can not take a chance on that best-case scenario. Now we have to get an overview, we also have to wait until we get knowledge about how the vaccine effect is and how seriously ill you become in relation to the Delta variant.
– In the course of two weeks, we know much more
–
Expect a response within two weeks
He emphasizes that the only thing they have definite indications of is that the variant is more easily transmitted. Therefore, it will be a great advantage if Norway limits the spread of infection as much as possible in the next two weeks, he believes.
– In the course of two weeks, we know more about the course of the disease and which groups are more vulnerable.
–
