CHANGSHA -- Central China's Hunan province detected the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in two passengers who had arrived from overseas in the provincial capital of Changsha.

The whole-genome sequencing and analysis by the Hunan provincial center for disease control and prevention found the Omicron variant in the respiratory tract samples from two imported COVID-19 cases registered in Changsha on Thursday.

An ensuing check by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the finding, the Changsha municipal COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control headquarters said Saturday.

The infected persons have been placed under quarantine and are undergoing treatment in a designated hospital.