JINAN -- East China's Shandong province reported its first imported coronavirus variant case on Jan 5, according to the provincial health commission.

The center for disease prevention and control of Shandong on Monday conducted the genetic sequencing of the sample of a recent imported case from Britain. It detected a sequence with a high resemblance to the new, more contagious strain, known as B.1.1.7.

The case, reported from the coastal city Qingdao, tested positive for coronavirus while in quarantine, said local health authorities.

The patient has been under closed-loop management and is undergoing treatment at a designated hospital.