The Microbiology laboratory of the Son Espases University Hospital has confirmed the first positive case in the Balearic Islands of the omicron variant of SARS-Cov2 by means of a specific PCR test.

This is a woman who had traveled from South Africa, one of the countries where there is transmission of this variant and for which the Ministry of Health has established restrictions for travelers, such as carrying out detection tests and quarantines of up to 10 days. even if the results are negative.

The traveler arrived, together with another companion, at the Frankfurt airport where a PDIA was performed, both of which were negative. Following the protocol established by the European Union, they were allowed to continue their journey to the final destination, which was Mallorca.

Once landed in Palma and without leaving the airport, members of the Foreign Health Department proceeded to carry out an antigen test again and this time one of the two passengers tested positive.

Both were transferred to the Son Espases University Hospital where a specific PCR test was carried out to confirm the lineage of the virus, since it was a suspected case of belonging to the omicron variant, and they have been isolated.

Finally, the analysis has confirmed the positive of the passenger and that, in all probability, it is the variant and both, the affected person and her companion -who has tested negative- have been confined.

A nurse from the Son Espases Hospital reviews her work material. Photo: HUSE.