The first six cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected in Turkey, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca was reported as saying on Saturday by state broadcaster TRT Haber.
Five of the cases were in the western city of Izmir and one in the largest city of Istanbul, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported Koca as saying.
“These six cases had no need for hospital. The symptoms were very light. They were treated as outpatients and did not have any problems,” he was cited as saying.
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Two weeks ago, Turkey closed its borders to passengers from South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe as a measure against the new coronavirus variant.
The number of new coronavirus cases in Turkey on Saturday amounted to 19,255, with a daily death toll of 191. The daily case numbers have fallen from a level of around 30,000 in October.
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Two weeks into the Omicron outbreak: Where to from here?
South African doctors see signs Omicron is milder than Delta
Omicron may pose higher reinfection risk but could be milder than Delta: WHO
