The U.K. and Italy became the latest countries to detect the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, as other European nations investigate suspected cases of a strain that health authorities say could be more transmissible and has been driving a jump in infections in South Africa.
The U.K. government tightened restrictions, including imposing new mask mandates and PCR tests for travelers, after testing identified the first two cases of the variant in the country, connected to South African travel. The individuals have been told to self-isolate along with their households.
