The Omicron BA-2 variant of the Covid-19 virus has been confirmed in Jamaica.

The Health Ministry says eighty-nine samples were sequenced with sample dates from January 1 to March 4.

It said of those, 98.9 per cent were Omicron variants and 1.1 per cent was Delta variant.

The ministry said of the Omicron samples, two of 88 were BA.2 variant.

Noting that the World Health Organization has classified the BA.2 variant as the dominant variant globally, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie said the variant is highly transmissible and as a result, there may be an increase in number of Covid-19 cases.

She is urging citizens to practice infection prevention and control measures, including wearing of masks.