The third case of infection with the new strain of COVID-19, Omicron, has been confirmed in Spain – in the Balearic Islands, health authorities said.

“The microbiology laboratory of the Son Espaces University Hospital today confirmed a positive result of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 strain through a special PCR test,” the health council of the Balearic Islands government said in a statement.

The first two cases of the new strain were previously confirmed in Madrid.

In all three cases, coronavirus was diagnosed in travellers from South Africa.