UK Health Minister Sajid Javid said in a broadcast clip Saturday that two cases of the new variant were found in England, connected to travel to southern Africa, where the new variant was first detected.

One case is in Chelmsford and the other in Nottingham. The two individuals and members of their households are being re-tested and told to self-isolate while further testing and contact tracing is done.

Meanwhile, the minister in the German state of Hesse said Saturday that the Omicron variant had also probably arrived in Germany.