Japan confirms first case of Omicron variant

Tokyo: Japan Tuesday confirmed its first case of Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a person who arrived in the country from Namibia.

Omicron has been detected in Japan, in less than a week after the new variant first discovered in South Africa.

The visitor in his 30s had earlier tested positive for the coronavirus at the airport, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

The man is staying in a medical facility and the government is aware of his close contacts, Matsuno said. 

Japan, however, is shutting its borders to foreigners on Tuesday for at least a month, among the strictest measures in the world to halt entry of Omicron.