The SARS-CoV-2 variant detected in the latest local COVID-19 case in Beijing is similar to the one detected in North America and Singapore, local health authorities said on Monday, adding that the person had not traveled to other provinces or cities within 14 days of the onset of illness.

Moreover, the novel coronavirus has been found on the packaging of an international mail received by the person on January 11, the authorities said. 

Combined with the epidemiological history of the case, the detection results of suspicious samples and the gene sequencing results of the case samples, the case may have contracted the virus through foreign goods, according to the authorities. 

A total of 69 closed contacts of the case were traced, and they all tested negative for COVID-19.