Health Protection Agency (HPA) has said that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has been found in Kaafu Atoll Maafushi and Dhaalu Atoll Kudahuvadhoo.

Speaking at the Health Ministry press conference this morning on the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, Senior Medical Officer at the HPA and the Spokesperson of the Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC), Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq, said that sequencing has confirmed that Omicron is in the Maldives.

And so far, eight locals and 19 tourists have been confirmed to have the Omicron variant.

Dr. Nazla said that four of the eight Omicron cases involving locals were found in Male' City with another three cases in Maafushi and one case in Kudahuvadhoo.

She said that yesterday's results showed seven Omicron cases among locals and one Omicron case the day before which means there are more, untested cases of the variant in the community.