The first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 in the United States was detected in California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Wednesday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief infectious disease expert, said at a White House press conference that the person who tested positive for the omicron variant in San Francisco had recently arrived from South Africa, where the new strain was discovered.
OMICRON VARIANT WAS PRESENT IN EUROPE A WEEK BEFORE DETECTION IN SOUTH AFRICA
“The individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive on Nov. 29,” Fauci said. “The individual is self-quarantining and all close contacts have been contacted and all close contacts thus far have tested negative. The individual was fully vaccinated and experienced mild symptoms, which are improving at this point. So this is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant detected in the United States.”
Fauci said the officials’ goal is to combat the omicron variant by encouraging vaccination and masking at large indoor events. He stressed that officials do not know enough about the mutation to determine whether it can circumvent the vaccine or spread more quickly than the alpha or delta strains.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said that while “there is no reason to panic,” people should “remain vigilant.”
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.@CAPublicHealth, @SF_DPH & @UCSF have detected a case of the Omicron variant.
As we continue to learn more about Omicron, there is no reason to panic but we should remain vigilant.
We know how to protect ourselves from COVID – get vaccinated, get your booster & wear a mask.
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) December 1, 2021
The mutated virus was discovered last week in South Africa and has since been identified in Europe and elsewhere. The Biden administration restricted travel from southern Africa in response, and government officials have suggested more protocols may be implemented in an effort to prevent viral transmission.
