Hard-Hit Brazil Sees First Cases of Omicron Variant, Pair of Travelers From South Africa

Brazil, which has been hit hard with COVID, reported its first cases of the omicron variant in a pair of travelers that came from South Africa, according to the Associated Press. These are the first confirmed cases of the omicron variant in Latin America, in a country with over 600,000 deaths related to COVID reported, a figure that analysts think is below the actual number. The couple, a 41-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman, are in isolation, the Sao Paulo state health secretariat said. They had tests taken on November 25 and exhibited light symptoms of COVID at the time, the Associated Press reported. The travelers, who live in South Africa, arrived in Brazil on November 23 and took a PCR test before they planned to return to South Africa two days later, according to the secretariat statement. The test results were collected at the Guarulhos international airport, outside of Sao Paulo, and came back positive. "After the positive result, the couple was instructed to remain in isolation at home. Both are being monitored by state and municipal (authorities), as well as their respective family members," said the Sao Paulo health secretariat. The secretariat mentioned that the two haven't been registered in the state's vaccination platform. "An initial investigation did not identify them being vaccinated anywhere else," it said. There is also another potential case of the omicron variant under investigation by Brazilian authorities since Sunday. Brazil does not require COVID vaccination from foreign travelers entering the country. Japan and France have also confirmed their first cases of the omicron variant Tuesday. There is also new evidence suggesting that the variant was in Europe almost a week before South Africa announced it on Wednesday, November 24, to the World Health Organization. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.

Much remains unknown about the new variant, including whether it is more contagious, as some health authorities suspect, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine. Brazil's health agency Anvisa said the entry took place before Sunday's federal government decision to block passengers arriving from South Africa. The South American country has blocked flights originating from or with stopovers in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Sao Paulo Governor João Doria said the state's COVID-19 scientific committee will reassess the end of the mask mandates, which was expected to come into force on December 11.

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"We need to know the impact of this new variant" before deciding if removing masks is allowed outdoors, said Doria, who is also a presidential hopeful for next year's elections. President Jair Bolsonaro, who has flouted health protocols since the beginning of the pandemic and remains unvaccinated, is insisting that social distancing policies should not be put back in place. Many mayors of Brazilian cities are wondering whether they should keep scheduled end-of-year festivities and February's Carnival due to fears COVID-19 infection rates could soar again.