Tianjin tests all residents as Omicron looms www.nhk.or.jp
The city of Tianjin in northern China has begun conducting PCR tests on all residents, after two cases of coronavirus infection with the Omicron variant were identified in the city.
The state-run China Central Television reported that the infected are a 29-year-old woman and a 10-year old girl.
They are not from the same family and had not left the city in the 14 days before being tested.
The authorities believe they are the cases of community transmission.
Eighteen people who were in close contact with the two have tested positive.
Omicron infections have been found in mainland China among those who arrived from overseas and their close contacts.
City authorities began PCR testing on Sunday with the aim of covering all of its more than 13 million residents.
Tianjin is close to Beijing, where the winter Olympic Games will be held in February.
China has been seeing a resurgence of COVID-19 infections recently.
About 2,000 cases have been confirmed in the inland city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province since December.
Authorities put the city under strict restrictions, forcing residents to stay home.
Infections are also spreading this month in Henan Province.
Published Date:2022-01-09