First Georgian tests positive for Omicron variant of Covid

A Georgia resident has examined positive for the lately found Omicron variant of Covid-19, state Public Health officers reported Friday night.
The Georgian is at the moment in New Jersey. The particular person, who was not recognized, lately was in South Africa after which went to New Jersey, the place the Covid tests had been carried out. The particular person is totally vaccinated, in line with the Georgia Department of Public Health.
South Africa and and different nations in southern Africa are the place the Omicron variant was first reported. The CDC has reported an increase in Covid circumstances in that area.
Health authorities worldwide have needed to cope with a number of variants, or strains, of Covid throughout the pandemic. Recently, the Delta variant has been the primary drawback. Now, the looks of Omicron has raised considerations amongst well being specialists as a result of of its unusually excessive quantity of mutations. That has the potential to make it extra transmissible and render current Covid vaccines much less efficient.
CDC Director Walensky at Dalton clinic.                Credit: WABE
 
“What we do know is that early information, and even mutation information, are telling us that this might be a extra transmissible variant than Delta,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the CDC, instructed CNN on Friday.
“This goes to take a while to type out,” she added. We are ready, although. We are doing genomic sequencing in all of these states, however it could very effectively be that we begin to see extra Omicron than we’ve Delta. And we can be following that very rigorously.”
As of  Friday, circumstances of Omicron had been recognized in a minimum of 11 states, however specialists say that additional unfold is predicted. The first particular person to have examined positive for the variant within the U.S. returned to San Francisco from South Africa on Nov. 22 and examined positive on Nov. 29, in line with the CDC.
The New York Times reported that scientists in South Africa stated Friday that Omicron appeared to unfold greater than twice as rapidly as Delta, which had been thought-about probably the most contagious model of the virus.
In the Georgia resident’s case, contact tracing is below approach in New Jersey and in Georgia to determine shut contacts in danger of an infection. So far, no further Omicron circumstances in Georgia have been recognized.
“Vaccination and boosters are key to stopping additional transmission of COVID-19 and assist stop new variants like Omicron from rising,” Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, stated in a press release Friday night. “Only 51 % of Georgians are totally vaccinated, and of these people lower than 20 % have obtained booster doses.”
Scientists within the United States and world wide are working to find out the transmissibility of Omicron, the severity of sickness it might probably trigger, and whether or not at the moment authorized Covid vaccines are efficient in opposition to it.
Public Health specialists say individuals ought to take the already current Covid precautions in coping with the brand new variant. That means getting vaccinated, receiving a booster, sporting masks whereas indoors, and getting examined if one has signs of Covid or has been uncovered to somebody with the illness.
Also Friday, Louisiana’s Department of Health reported the primary possible case of the Omicron variant in that state. The case includes a person within the New Orleans space who lately traveled elsewhere throughout the United States.
“We now know Omicron is right here in Louisiana. This is trigger for concern, however not panic,” stated State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter.

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