Concerns over fully vaccinated Omicron cases

The Omicron Covid variant has arrived in the Faroes.

Two people, both fully vaccinated, have tested positive for the new variant.

A further cause for concern is that these two are linked to a larger chain of infection consisting of 20-25 people, according to chief medical officer Lars Fodgaard Møller.

Limited vaccine protection

“All the people in this infection chain are fully vaccinated, so it appears that the vaccine does not protect very well against Omicron, nor does it seem to prevent further spread,” he says.

However, he adds, studies from abroad indicate that vaccinated people experience a milder illness when infected with Omicron.

“What we can say with certainty at this point is that this variant is much more infectious than anything we have seen before.”

The source of the new Omicron infection chain in the Faroes has not yet been established.

Revised quarantine measures

Up to now, vaccinated people and those with previous infections have been exempt from quarantine after exposure to an infected person.

“We will now be asking everyone, regardless of vaccination or immunity status, to quarantine if they have been exposed to a person who tests positive for Omicron,” says Møller.

National Hospital affected

Half of the 46 staff members at the National Hospital’s surgical department have tested Covid positive, and Omicron has been detected among these 23 people.

All patients in the surgical department have been tested, and as of 11am this morning, no positive results had been confirmed.

All non-emergency surgeries have been postponed.

The National Hospital management was not available for comment for the midday news programme due to a revision of internal procedures to prevent further spread.

For more information about Covid-19 in the Faroes, including daily figures, visit corona.fo.

More Faroese News in English.