December 1

Brazil has confirmed two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the first such cases in South America.

The government of Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city, reported on Tuesday that a 41-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman tested positive for the Omicron variant.

The two travelers from South Africa arrived in Brazil on November 23 and tested positive for the coronavirus last Thursday at the airport when they tried to return to South Africa. Further tests confirmed it was the Omicron variant.

The Brazilian government imposed restrictions on entries from South Africa and five other southern African countries on Monday.

NHK