Japan confirms its first case of the Omicron variant
Tokyo – Japan has confirmed its first case of infection with the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, less than a week after it was discovered in South Africa, a government source said Tuesday.
A man in his 30s was found to be infected with the highly mutated strain after arriving at Narita airport near Tokyo from Namibia on Sunday, Kyodo news agency reported.
The man tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival and samples are being analyzed at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases to confirm whether it is the Omicron variant.
The World Health Organization has warned that the Omicron variant, which has already been confirmed in Europe, Canada, Israel and Hong Kong, may be more transmissible or evade immunity from previous infections and vaccines.
Japan closed its borders to new foreign arrivals starting Tuesday and required citizens and foreigners with resident status returning from high-risk areas to quarantine for 10 days at a government-designated facility.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed to take all necessary precautions to “avoid the worst-case scenario” in announcing the measures, which come just three weeks after Japan eased entry rules for businesspeople, foreign students and participants in its technical internship program.
2024-08-30 16:20:32