Norway Christmas party becomes largest Omicron superspreader event outside South Africa
- At least half of the 120 participants were infected with the Omicron coronavirus variant during the event, according to a senior doctor
- Event was for renewable energy company Scatec; at least one person had recently returned from South Africa, where firm has operations
“This party has been a superspreader event,” Preben Aavitsland, a senior doctor at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said. “Our working hypothesis is that at least half of the 120 participants were infected with the Omicron variant during the party. This makes this, for now, the largest Omicron outbreak outside South Africa.”
The party on November 26 was organised by renewable energy company Scatec, which also has operations in South Africa. At least one person who attended the party had recently returned from South Africa, according to multiple reports.
All attendees were fully vaccinated and had tested negative before the event. Fifty people who attended had positive PCR tests for coronavirus, while another 10 have tested positive on lateral flow tests, according to the Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.
After sequencing, health authorities have confirmed that 13 of the cases were the Omicron variant, and more are expected to be confirmed.