The Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius has recorded its first two infections of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, both linked to people returned from South Africa, with a dozen more contact cases feared, AFP reports.

Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal told a press conference the pair were asymptomatic and had tested negative the day before. “They have already gone home,” he said.

He added that contract tracing for the two people had been carried out, revealing 12 positive cases with a missing S gene — a tell-tale sign of Omicron.