First Omicron Variant Case Identified in U.S.

Dec. 1, 2021 — The first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus within the United States was confirmed by officers at the moment in a person in California who had just lately traveled to South Africa. He or she was totally vaccinated towards COVID-19 and skilled solely “gentle signs which might be bettering,” officers with the CDC mentioned.

The affected person, who was not named within the CDC’s annoucement of the primary U.S. case of the Omicron variant on Wednesday, is self-quarantining.

“All shut contacts have been contacted and have examined detrimental,” officers mentioned. 

White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients reiterated that the primary case was not surprising. 

“The president’s medical crew continues to consider that present vaccines will present some stage of safety towards extreme sickness from Omicron, and people who’ve gotten boosters have even stronger safety,” Zients mentioned in a press release. 

“This new variant is trigger for continued vigilance, not panic,” he mentioned. “We know what it takes to restrict the unfold of COVID: Get vaccinated, get boosted, and take public well being measures like masking and distancing.”

The Omicron variant, first recognized in South Africa, has been reported in nations around the globe in current days. Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and Germany every reported this variant, as have Italy and the Netherlands. Over the weekend, the primary North American circumstances have been recognized in Canada. It’s at present been present in a minimum of 23 nations, the World Health Organization mentioned Wednesday. 

Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, introduced over the weekend that this latest variant was seemingly already within the U.S., telling ABC’s This Week its look right here was “inevitable.”

Similar to earlier variants, this new pressure seemingly began circulating within the U.S. earlier than scientists may do genetic checks to substantiate its presence.

The WHO named Omicron a “variant of concern” on Friday, though a lot stays unknown about how effectively it spreads, how extreme it may be, and the way it might resist vaccines. In the meantime, the U.S. enacted journey bans from a number of South African nations.

It stays to be seen if Omicron will comply with the sample of the Delta variant, which was first recognized within the U.S. in May and have become the dominant pressure by July. It’s additionally potential it should comply with the trail taken by the Mu variant. Mu emerged in March and April to a lot concern, solely to fizzle out by September as a result of it was unable to compete with the Delta variant.