Omicron Case Found In Hawaii—Coronavirus Variant Has Now Spread To 5 States
Topline
Hawaii on Thursday confirmed its first case of the omicron coronavirus variant, after California, Minnesota, Colorado and New York reported circumstances of the brand new variant found in southern Africa final week.
An worker of the Ministry of Well being will get outcomes of the COVID-19 assessments carried out massively in … [+]
AFP through Getty Photographs
Key Information
The Hawaii Well being Division confirmed the omicron variant was detected in an unvaccinated resident who had no historical past of journey exterior the state, suggesting a case of neighborhood unfold.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said Thursday that 5 circumstances of the variant had been recognized throughout the state, with one of many sufferers having not too long ago returned from a visit to South Africa.
The Colorado Division of Public Well being and Atmosphere announced Thursday that the omicron variant was detected in a vaccinated resident of Arapahoe County who had not too long ago traveled to southern Africa as a vacationer.
On Thursday morning, the Minnesota Division of Well being announced one in all its labs confirmed the state’s first detected case of the omicron variant in a vaccinated man who had not too long ago traveled to New York Metropolis for an anime conference earlier than creating delicate signs upon his return dwelling.
The primary detected case of the omicron variant within the U.S. was discovered Wednesday in a vaccinated California resident who had not too long ago traveled to South Africa.
Key Background
As of Wednesday, the variant had been found in at the least 24 nations, World Well being Group Director Basic Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated throughout a press convention. President Joe Biden responded to the variant by suspending journey from eight nations in southern Africa, and his administration announced Thursday morning stricter screening for inbound vacationers, together with a requirement that they check for Covid-19 sooner or later earlier than departure, no matter vaccination standing or nationality.
Tangent
Scientists on the Colorado State Public Well being Laboratory had been in a position to determine the primary case of the variant within the state by a lacking “S gene” throughout genome sequencing of the affected person’s pattern—a attribute often called the “S gene target failure” that a number of labs have indicated as a denotation for the omicron variant.
What To Watch For
Moderna has begun improvement of an omicron-specific Covid-19 booster shot that may very well be accepted as early as March, although White Home infectious illness knowledgeable Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested the general public Wednesday in a press convention to not look ahead to variant-specific boosters and for individuals who are eligible to get an additional dose now.
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