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Omicron in California: First case of Covid variant confirmed in the US in a fully-vaccinated person
THE first case of the Omicron Covid variant has been confirmed in the United States in a fully-vaccinated person in California.
Dr Anthony Fauci confirmed the Omicron case on Wednesday as he revealed that the individual had recently traveled to South Africa, where the strain was first identified.
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The person had been traveling in South Africa and returned to the San Francisco area on November 22, health officials said.
They tested positive for Covid on November 29 and had mild symptoms which are improving.
Further details on the case are not yet known.
“The individual is self quarantining and all close contacts have been contacted and all close contacts, thus far, have tested negative,” Fauci, the White House chief medical advisor, announced at a press briefing.
“We feel good that this patient not only had mild symptoms but actually the symptoms appear to be improving.”
The US now joins with Canada, the UK, Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Hong Kong, among other places, where the variant has been found.
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As of Wednesday, Omicron cases have been identified in 23 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
The organization has deemed the strain a 'variant of concern."
Fauci had already claimed on Sunday that he believed it was highly likely the variant, initially known as B.1.1.529, was already in the US.
"We knew it was only a matter of time before the Omicron variant was detected in the United States," he said Wednesday.
"We know what we need to do to protect people: get vaccinated if you're not already vaccinated, get boosted if you've been vaccinated for more than six months with an MRMA or two months with a J&J.
"And all the other things we've been saying like getting your children vaccinated, masking in indoor congregate settings."
Currently, 59.4 percent of the US population is fully vaccinated.
MORE TESTING NEEDED
Fauci added that it would take two to four weeks of testing before scientists had more information on the strain.
It will also take several weeks until health officials know how effective vaccines are against Omicron.
While the key symptoms of Covid-19 are well-known, experts have claimed the symptoms of Omicron could be different from what we are used to.
Scientists are still waiting for more data to come out about the 'horrific' new strain before determining how dangerous it is.
Samples are currently being tested and once these have been processed experts will have a better idea of how effective vaccines will be against the strain.
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Further details on the California case are expected from local health officials later on Wednesday.
More than 5.2million people have died from Covid worldwide including 780,000 Americans, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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