France detects nine Omicron variant cases as govt eyes tourism hit

Cases of the new variant were found in different parts of France and in the overseas territory of La Reunion, and the country is stepping up efforts to isolate them, health authorities said

France said it has detected nine cases of the omicron variant, even as President Emmanuel Macron’s government steps in with fresh promises to support the country’s hard-hit tourism industry.
 

Cases of the new coronavirus variant were found in different parts of France and in the overseas territory of La Reunion, and the country is stepping up efforts to identify and isolate them as soon as possible, health authorities said in an emailed statement on Friday. 

Omicron has probably been circulating in the country “for a few weeks,” French Health Minister Olivier Veran said in an interview on FranceInfo radio, adding that