The South American country has logged 408,894 cases of infection and 6,167 deaths during the pandemic.

MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Uruguayan Public Health Minister Daniel Salinas on Wednesday confirmed the country's first cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Researcher Gregorio Iraola of the Pasteur Institute in Montevideo "has been able to confirm" that "the Omicron variant has entered our country," Salinas told reporters.

More details will be provided by the Pasteur Institute and the ministry on Thursday, Salinas said following a meeting of the Council of Ministers led by President Luis Lacalle Pou.

"We expect a (viral) behavior similar to that worldwide, that is a very steep increase in cases," despite 75 percent of the population having been fully vaccinated, he said.

Uruguay registered 913 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the highest daily number since July 1, while active cases climbed from 4,230 to 4,820, the highest number since July 17.

The South American country has logged 408,894 cases of infection and 6,167 deaths during the pandemic.