Belo said health authorities were consulting with medical experts and would lay out their strategy for combating the new variant in the coming days.

The Omicron coronavirus variant spread around the world on Sunday, with new cases found in 20 countries including Australia, Japan and Germany even as more countries imposed travel restrictions to seal themselves off.

While Belo could not confirm if Timor-Leste would close its international borders, she told reporters that with omicron active in neighbouring Australia the country was on high alert and would monitor all travel.

Global health officials have reiterated calls for people to get COVID-19 vaccinated.