First case of omicron identified in the U.S. as impact of the new COVID variant remains unclear
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The U.S. has officially identified the first case of COVID-19’s omicron variant, which comes at a surprise to no one. Neither should it be surprising that the case was located in California. Not only does that state have the largest population andFirst case of omicron identified in the U.S. as impact of the new COVID variant remains unclear
The U.S. has officially identified the first case of COVID-19’s omicron variant, which comes at a surprise to no one. Neither should it be surprising that the case was located in California. Not only does that state have the largest population and not only is it a hub for international travel, but it shares an important trait with South Africa: a good system of sampling and testing. This doesn’t mean that California is now an omicron hotspot. That single omicron patient represents someone who travelled from the area of South Africa where the variant was already identified. The individual is quarantining, and is not currently known to have spread the variant to anyone else. They are vaccinated and are experiencing only mild symptoms. More cases will be identified, in both the U.S. and elsewhere. As they are, scientists will get a better grasp on what makes this new variant more or less similar to those that have become all too familiar. On Tuesday, a single anecdote out of South Africa was quickly construed into the idea that omicron was going to be the kinder, gentler form of COVID-19. By Wednesday, those stories had changed, with tweets and Facebook posts suggesting omicron is a relentless monster that not only has increased mortality, but the ability to dive right through masks and other PPE. Fortunately, that scenario isn’t true. Read more