Omicron variants circulating in Vanuatu

Two sub-variants of the Omicron Covid strain, BA.1 and BA.2, are circulating in Vanuatu, the country's health minister Bruno Leingkone says.

Leingkone said specimens sent to Melbourne for laboratory analysis were confirmed as the sub-variants.

He said more information on the two Omicron subvariants would soon be made known to the public, but in the meantime people were encouraged to keep following the public health measures.

Alert levels have been dropped for most areas in Vanuatu but Erromango and Tanna remain at the highest level, three.