China detects first case of Omicron variant

China detects first case of Omicron variant

China has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant on the mainland, CNN reported.

Health authorities in the northern port city of Tianjin were able to identify and isolate the carrier of the variant — a traveler who arrived from overseas on December 9, before it entered into the community, state media reported Monday.

The infected individual was initially identified as an asymptomatic carrier. Subsequent genome sequencing reviewed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed it was the Omicron variant, according to state media.