China detects first case of Omicron coronavirus variant

[BEIJING] Health authorities in northern China's port city of Tianjin have detected the first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the country's mainland, the state-run Tianjin Daily reported on Monday.

The infection was discovered in a traveller who arrived in the city from overseas on Dec 9, the newspaper said, adding that the patient is currently being treated in isolation in hospital.

The asymptomatic patient tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday before further tests "confirmed the detection of the... Omicron variant", the report said.

The world's most populous nation is on high alert for potential outbreaks as it prepares to host the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.

Disease control agencies affiliated with the State Council - China's Cabinet - have ordered stronger virus protocols in port cities like Tianjin, which lies around 140 kilometres from the capital.

Omicron appears to spread faster than the Delta variant, making vaccines less effective but causing less severe symptoms, the World Health Organization said on Sunday, while stressing that the data remains patchy.

China has slowed its number of new virus cases to a trickle through a combination of tight border restrictions, mass testing and targetted lockdowns. The country recorded 101 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, including 21 imported infections, according to data from the National Health Commission. REUTERS, AFP