Taiwan records first omicron case in traveler from Africa

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan has recorded its archetypal lawsuit of the omicron variant successful a rider who precocious traveled to the confederate African state of Eswatini, wellness officials said Saturday.

The passenger, a Taiwanese pistillate successful her 30s who returned connected Dec. 8, is present successful quarantine successful hospital, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center, which is successful complaint of the island’s pandemic response. Passengers who sat adjacent her connected the level person tested antagonistic truthful far.

Taiwan reported 10 caller coronavirus cases connected Saturday, each of which were identified successful travelers entering from abroad.

The self-ruling land has a strict two-week quarantine connected accomplishment and has sealed its borders disconnected to each but residents and citizens, with fewer exceptions. There is small assemblage transmission wrong its borders of the illness and determination has been fewer restrictions connected question internally successful caller months. Mask wearing is astir universal.

While the omicron variant is called a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization, scientists are inactive moving to find however it whitethorn comparison with the predominant delta variant successful presumption of transmissibility and severity.

Taiwan has reported 16,731 COVID-19 cases successful full and 848 deaths.