First Omicron case in U.S. adds to global alarm over virus variant

A woman gets vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through a window outside a doctor's practice, in the district of Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany December 1, 2021. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fears over the impact of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus rose on Thursday after the first case was reported in the United States and the Japanese central bank warned of economic pain as countries respond with tighter containment measures.

The first known U.S. case was a fully vaccinated person in California who returned to the United States from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive seven days later.