Mainland China confirms 1st case of omicron variant
China has confirmed its first case of the omicron variant on the mainland, state-run media reported Monday.
The variant was detected in a traveler from overseas who arrived in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Dec. 9. The individual tested positive for COVID-19 last week and subsequent genome sequencing confirmed it was the omicron variant.
The patient, who showed no symptoms, is being treated in isolation at a hospital, according to state-run media.
![PHOTO: A woman wearing a face mask walks near shadows cast by other visitors to a shopping mall in Beijing, China, on Dec. 14, 2021.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/International/woman-face-mask-beijing-ap-211_hpEmbed_20211214-051831_3x2_992.jpg)