Omicron outbreak at Christmas party in Norway is largest outside S. Africa, authorities say
Syringes are prepared with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19 at a vaccination center on Thursday, December 2, 2021.
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At least 13 people in Oslo have been infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus after a corporate Christmas party described as a “super-spreader event” and their number could rise to more than 60, the authorities said Friday.
The outbreak took place at a Christmas party on 26 November organized by renewable energy company Scatec, which has operations in South Africa, where the variant was first discovered.
Preben Aavitsland, a senior doctor at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, told Reuters via email: “This party is a super viral event.
“Our operating hypothesis was that at least half of the 120 participants were infected with the omicron variant during the party. This makes it currently the largest omicron outbreak outside of South Africa.”
In addition to those infected at the party, Aavitsland said, two people living on the west coast of the country and two people being quarantined at Oslo airport have been confirmed to carry the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The outbreak prompted the Norwegian government to re-impose some nationwide restrictions to limit the spread of Covid-19.
Across Europe, companies are canceling Christmas party plans due to the emergence of the omicron variant.
Party
The first person in Oslo confirmed to be infected attended the party, where at least one employee had just returned from South Africa. All attendees were fully vaccinated and had tested negative prior to the event.
“Health authorities have confirmed 12 more cases of omicron infection in Oslo following the outbreak,” the city of Oslo said in a statement. “So far 13 omicron cases have been confirmed after sequencing. More cases are expected.”
Health authorities say those infected so far have all had mild symptoms, with no cases requiring hospitalization.
“It is too early to say whether the clinical picture of the disease is different in Omicron infections compared with Delta infections,” Aavitsland said.
“None of the patients had severe symptoms; no one was hospitalized. However, this was not beyond the expectations of the study participants.”
Scatec said it followed the advice of authorities throughout the pandemic. It also said it was focused on taking care of its employees and limiting the spread of the virus.
