Coronavirus

Tokyo’s 1st omicron case found

Yomiuri Shimbun file photo
The Tokyo metropolitan government building

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:22 JST, December 16, 2021

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Thursday that a person has been found infected with the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus in Tokyo. It is the first case of the variant confirmed in the capital, other than those detected in airport tests of arriving travelers.

The person had recently returned to Japan from abroad. After testing negative for the virus at the airport, the person had been staying at home, according to the Tokyo metropolitan government.

One of the person’s close contacts has also tested positive for the coronavirus. The metropolitan government is checking to see if that person is also infected with the omicron variant.

According to the metropolitan government, 30 new coronavirus infection cases were identified in the capital on Thursday. It is the first time in 35 days that the number reached 30.