Taiwan confirms first case of Omicron variant

December 11, 2021 - 3:59 PM
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People wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ride on an escalator during morning rush hour at a subway station in Taipei, Taiwan, November 30, 2021. (Reuters/I-Hwa Cheng)

TAIPEI — Taiwan‘s government said on Saturday that it had detected the island’s first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

The Central Epidemic Command Center said the infection was detected in a traveler from Eswatini, who was already in quarantine, as is the case for all arrivals into Taiwan.

The traveller was asymptomatic. Ten other people seated in front of and behind the traveller on the incoming flight had been under home quarantine and had all tested negative, the centre said. —Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Writing by Andrew Galbraith; Editing by Edmund Klamann