Multiple introductions of SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant BA.1 and BA.1.1. lineages to Finland were detected in early December 2021. Within 3 weeks, Omicron overtook Delta as the most common variant in the capital region. Sequence analysis demonstrated the emergence and spread through community transmission of a large cluster of BA.1.1 virus.
Keywords: COVID-19; Finland; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages BA.1 and BA.1.1; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant; disease spread; respiratory infections; viruses; zoonoses.