Omicron infection toll in Finland rises to 20

Eleven new infections of coronavirus variant Omicron have been detected in in Finland, said the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in a press release on Friday.

With these 11, a total of 20 people were infected with the coronavirus variant Omicron in the country so far.

The new infections of Omicron were diagnosed in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), the South Karelia Social and Health Care District (Eksote) and the hospital districts of Southwest Finland and Vaasa.

Those who have been in close contact with the infected people have been quarantined and the authority are finding out about others who may have been exposed.

The first observations of the Omicron coronavirus variant were made in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong in November.

So far, the Omicron coronavirus variant was found in 50 countries in the world including in 21 countries in Europe.

The first case of the Omicron variant was detected in Finland on 2 December.