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Portugal's Ministry of Health is reporting this morning that 13 members of a local soccer club have tested positive for what they believe is the Omicron variant of COVID after one team member reportedly recently returned from South Africa.
This comes on the heels of the announcement from Scotland of 6 suspected locally acquired cases, which combined raises concerns over just how well entrenched this new variant is outside of Southern Africa.
The (translated) statement from the MOH follows:
Identified 13 cases of the Ómicron variant
11/29/2021
Health Authorities reinforce epidemiological surveillance.
The National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), through its Department of Infectious Diseases, analyzed, on November 28, a batch of 13 positive samples associated with cases of infection in Belenenses SAD players, given that one of the cases was positive. he probably had a recent trip to South Africa.He also analyzed samples from 218 passengers on a flight from Maputo that landed, on November 27, at Lisbon airport.
Preliminary tests carried out at INSA strongly suggest that all 13 cases associated with Belenenses SAD players are related to the Omicron concern variant. In order to guarantee the breaking of transmission chains and following the precautionary principle in Public Health, while awaiting more information regarding the transmission, impact and vaccine effectiveness against the Ómicron variant, the Health Authorities determined the prophylactic isolation of case contacts associated with this outbreak, regardless of vaccination status and level of exposure.
This new genetic variant of the new coronavirus, initially identified in South Africa and some southern African countries, has also been identified in recent days in some European countries. However, there is still no scientific data to support its greater transmissibility or its ability to decrease the effectiveness of current vaccines.
Health Authorities throughout the territory are strengthening epidemiological surveillance, implementing control measures, with the prophylactic isolation of contacts of cases of infection by the Omicron variant or with a history of travel to southern Africa in the previous 14 days, regardless of the state vaccine, by the principle of precaution in Public Health. The INSA will also continue to monitor the genetic variants of the new coronavirus on a continuous basis through the analysis of samples with national representation, as well as the analysis of suspected cases that are identified by the Health Authorities or by collaborating laboratories.
Portugal is aware of this situation, maintaining its continuous program of monitoring variations at national level. More information about the “Study of the genetic diversity of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) in Portugal” can be obtained at https://insaflu.insa.pt/covid19/ . Health Authorities continue to call for self-isolation and testing of people who have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, who should contact the NHS24. For more information, see https://covid19.min-saude.pt/ .
29 November 2021
