China detected its first case of the highly contagious Omicron variant on Monday. This is a person who tested positive in Tianjin, in the northeast of the country, who was returning from abroad.
The asymptomatic patient was hospitalized and placed in isolation, reports the Tianjin Daily.
China is working to contain every potential new epidemic focus as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February.
Health officials have ordered stricter protocols in port cities like Tianjin, located about 140 kilometers from the capital.
More contagious
The Omicron variant appears to spread faster than the Delta variant, causing less severe symptoms and making vaccines less effective, the WHO said on Sunday, stressing that the data remains very patchy.
China has managed to drastically reduce its Covid cases thanks to a combination of border controls, massive testing campaigns and targeted lockdowns.
The country recorded 101 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, including 21 imported cases, according to the National Health Agency.
