Omicron in Shenzhen unrelated to previous cases

The second local case of coronavirus infection by the Omicron variant in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, is not related to any previous infection, based on the epidemiological investigation and gene sequencing, according to the city's health commission on Wednesday.

No highly similar virus has been found among other local or imported cases, or cases in the global data bank.

The infected person in Shenzhen, a female, had been working as a cleaner under closed-loop management at a hotel for international flight crews between Jan 1 and 14. After her shift ended on Jan 14, she had been staying at a quarantine hotel until testing positive for the coronavirus on Jan 17.

The city reported a total of 18 confirmed cases in the latest outbreak since the new count began on Jan 7.