Omicron variant shows up in Henan

Genome sequencing by the Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention found two locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 in Anyang were the highly transmissible Omicron variant, Anyang Daily reported on Monday.

The coronavirus is from the same transmission chain as the current outbreak in Tianjin's Jinnan district, the center said.

The two people were found positive on Saturday.

The source of the new cases in Anyang has been basically identified as a college student who returned to Tangyin county of Anyang from Tianjin on Dec 28, the center said.

The coronavirus risk levels of two areas in Anyang were classified as high on Monday, the city's epidemic prevention and control headquarters said.

Henan reported 60 cases on Sunday, the provincial health commission reported on Monday. Of those, 24 were found in the capital, Zhengzhou, 15 in Anyang and 21 in Xuchang.