The Imperial Palace grounds, foreground, and central Tokyo are seen in this September 2021 file photo taken from a Mainichi Shimbun helicopter. (Mainichi/Kentaro Ikushima)

       TOKYO -- A person in the Japanese capital has been confirmed infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus, it was learned on Dec. 16. It is the first omicron case in Tokyo detected outside an airport quarantine station.

       The omicron variant was discovered in late November -- first in South Africa and then in other places around the world including countries in Europe. Experts have said that the variant could pose a high reinfection risk, and increasing numbers of countries are reporting a community spread of the variant.

       Meanwhile, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a Dec. 16 press conference that an individual who had been in close contact with the person infected with omicron and who'd arrived from overseas on Dec. 8 also tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 15. It is unknown whether the individual also has the omicron variant. Both people are now in isolation at a medical facility.

       The individual apparently went to see the semifinal match of Japanese soccer's Emperor's Cup at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture, just south of Tokyo on Dec. 12.

       "I would like anyone who was at the stadium that day and is not feeling well to avoid going out and seek a diagnosis at a medical institution," Matsuno said.

       According to the chief Cabinet secretary, the person who arrived from abroad was confirmed infected with omicron during their mandatory isolation period.

       (Japanese original by Sooryeon Kim, Lifestyle & Medical News Department, and Shuhei Endo, Political News Department)

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0