Breaking news! First detection in mainland China!

Tianjin detects the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus among inbound travelers, the first detection in mainland China

On December 13, the reporter learned from the Tianjin Epidemic Prevention and Control Command that the Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted whole genome sequencing and sequence analysis of respiratory specimens of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients imported from abroad on December 9. After review by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 (B.1.1.529 evolutionary branch) was confirmed. The infected person in Tianjin is a closed-loop control personnel entering the country and is currently isolated and treated in a designated hospital. It is reported that this is the first time that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 has been found in mainland China.

The general public should continue to maintain good hygiene habits, adhere to effective prevention and control measures such as wearing masks scientifically, getting vaccinated, washing hands frequently, and not gathering. In particular, children aged 3 to 11 and the elderly over 60 should actively cooperate with the new crown vaccine work. Inbound personnel, personnel in high-risk positions, and personnel in key epidemic areas should actively report after returning to Tianjin and cooperate with health monitoring and classification management. They should insist on not leaving the country unless necessary, reduce unnecessary travel, and not relax and jointly resist the risks brought by the new coronavirus mutant strains.

Regarding "Omicron", Wu Liangyou, deputy director of the National Health Commission's Disease Control Bureau, said on December 11 that the National Health Commission attaches great importance to the changes in the transmissibility and pathogenicity of the Omicron variant, and organizes relevant units to closely track the latest research on the mutation, infectivity, pathogenicity and impact of the Omicron variant on the immune effect of vaccines, and conduct analysis and judgment. At present, whether the Omicron variant has a stronger transmissibility and immune escape risk than the Delta variant requires further observation. The Omicron variant does not affect the sensitivity and specificity of my country's existing nucleic acid detection reagents. Moreover, my country's monitoring system has the ability to promptly detect imported cases of the Omicron variant.

Wu Liangyou emphasized that in the next step, the National Health Commission will closely track the global epidemic trend of the Omicron variant, continue to adhere to the overall strategy of "preventing imports from outside and rebound from inside", strictly implement the management of incoming personnel and goods, strictly prevent the import and spread of the Omicron variant, increase research on the Omicron variant, and provide scientific and technological support for my country's precise prevention and control and vaccine development.

Source: Tianjin Health, National Health Commission official website