Cambodia confirms 1st case of Omicron COVID-19 variant

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Cambodia confirms 1st case of Omicron COVID-19 variant

Source: Xinhua | 2021-12-15 | Editor:Ines

Cambodia has identified the first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, a traveler from the western African country of Ghana, the country's ministry of health announced in a press statement Tuesday midnight.

"A 23-year-old Cambodian woman was confirmed positive for the Omicron variant by the Pasteur Institute in Cambodia (on) Dec. 14," the statement said.

The woman, who is 15-weeks pregnant, arrived in Cambodia on Sunday from Ghana, with connecting flights in Dubai and Thailand's Bangkok, it said, adding that she was first rapid-tested positive for COVID-19 upon her arrival at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

The patient is currently undergoing treatment at a COVID-19 treatment facility in Phnom Penh, the statement said.

The Omicron variant was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on Nov. 24 and it was classified a "variant of concern" by the WHO.