A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing in Macao, south China, Aug 4, 2021. (CHEONG KAM KA / XINHUA)

MOCAO - China's Macao Special Administrative Region on Monday reported its first imported COVID-19 case of Omicron variant, bringing the SAR's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 78.

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The man tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Macao and developed symptoms of coughing and phlegm on Monday, said the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center of Macao

The new case involved a 23-year-old Macao resident who departed the United States on Thursday and arrived in the SAR on Saturday via Singapore, said the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center of Macao.

The man tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Macao and developed symptoms of coughing and phlegm on Monday, the center said.

Macao's health authorities tested the genome sequence of the virus and found it was of the Omicron variant.

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The center called on Macao residents overseas to reduce unnecessary traveling as much as possible.