Tokyo finds omicron case in US arrival isolating at home

TOKYO — Tokyo has confirmed its archetypal lawsuit of the omicron variant of the coronavirus successful a traveler from the United States, and her person whom she saw instantly aft accomplishment has since tested affirmative aft going to a shot game.

Separately, the Health Ministry announced Thursday that 1 of its quarantine officials besides tested affirmative for the omicron variant. The caller findings bring Japan’s confirmed omicron cases to 34.

So far, Japan’s authorities says each omicron cases person been detected by its borderline controls, but experts accidental it would beryllium a substance of clip earlier cases of assemblage transmission commencement surfacing.

Tokyo’s omicron diligent tested antagonistic for COVID-19 upon accomplishment astatine the airdrome connected Dec. 8, but developed a fever the adjacent time during her self-isolation astatine location and tested affirmative for the virus, the Health Ministry said successful a statement. Her samples were further analyzed and confirmed Thursday arsenic the omicron variant.

The men she met instantly aft returning besides developed a fever and different symptoms. He attended a shot crippled with 10 people, including his household and colleagues, earlier investigating positive. His samples were being analyzed for the omicron variant.

The ministry urged spectators who attended the packed Sunday shot crippled successful Kawasaki, adjacent Tokyo, to get tested.

Japan has stepped up borderline controls since the omicron variant was archetypal reported successful South Africa, and present bans caller introduction of overseas nationals. Japan has had astir 1.73 cardinal cases since the pandemic began, with astir 18,400 deaths.