reporter: i got an update from the netherlands, next door to germany, and they re saying the omicron variant was present in that country a week earlier than they d actually thought. they just put out a release a couple minutes ago, saying they have a sample from november 19th already showing the omicron variant present there. you were just saying, three cases in germany confirmed a couple minutes ago. a fourth case was confirmed. that s the first time in germany someone was confirmed to have the omicron variant who did not have a history of southern africa and who hadn t recently returned from southern africa. that apparently spreading quickly. all of this, by the way, coming as germany is already in the worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic. of course, germany for a long time was seen as a role model dealing with the pandemic. not so anymore. a lot of that has to do with a lack of evacuatvaccinations or getting their vaccinations.