Community-acquired omicron infection confirmed in Tokyo

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:31 JST, December 24, 2021

A doctor in Tokyo has been confirmed to be infected with the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Friday. It is the first community-acquired omicron case confirmed in the capital.

The doctor, who works at a clinic in Tokyo, has no recent history of overseas travel, and is not known to have had contact with people infected with the variant, Koike said at a press conference.

The doctor has been hospitalized after testing positive for the virus. Five people — the doctor’s family members and colleagues — have been identified as close contacts, all of whom have so far tested negative for the virus.

“It’s important that we strengthen our testing system so that we can promptly isolate patients and provide treatment,” Koike said.

The Kyoto prefectural government also announced Friday that three more people in the prefecture had been found to have the omicron variant. The prefectural government said the three, in their 30s to 50s, are likely to have community-acquired infections, as they have not traveled abroad and their route of infection is unknown.

A woman in her 20s in the prefecture was found to be infected with the variant on Thursday, but the latest three people had not had any contact with the woman, according to the prefectural government.