The Philippines detected two imported cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant, its first reported cases, the Department of Health announced on Wednesday.
The two Omicron variant cases, detected from 48 samples sequenced on Dec. 14, were currently isolated in a quarantine facility, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
"The two Omicron variant cases are incoming travelers and are currently isolated in a facility managed by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ)," the DOH said.
One of the cases is a traveler who arrived from Japan on December 1 via Philippine Airlines flight number PR 0427. The sample was collected on December 5. The other case is a Nigerian who arrived on Nov. 30 via Oman Air with flight number WY 843.
On Monday, China reported its first case of the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant ahead of Bejing Winter Olympics. Authorities in the northern city of Tianjin confirmed the case in a person who entered the country from an undisclosed overseas location, according to the Tianjin Daily newspaper.
The patient tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday before further tests “confirmed the detection of the… Omicron variant”, the report said, adding that the person was isolated at the hospital.
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