Turkey reported its first cases of the newest COVID-19 variant omicron Saturday.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that one of the cases was reported in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul and five cases in the western province of Izmir.

The reported cases did not need to be hospitalized, the minister further said, adding that it seems that the variant is spreading faster but has a milder effect on patients.

"What needs to be done is that our citizens continue with the measures as they have done so far," said Koca.

The omicron variant was first detected in South Africa, causing panic around the world last month, sparking concern that it might be more contagious, cause more severe symptoms or evade vaccines.

The emergence of the variant prompted dozens of nations to impose border restrictions, raising the possibility of a return to lockdowns, causing further strain to COVID-19-hit economies.