A COVID-19 testing facility is marketed at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport on November 30, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey.
Spencer Platt | Getty Photographs
Greater than 20 individuals in a minimum of 11 U.S. states have examined optimistic for the omicron variant of the virus that causes Covid-19. The sufferers vary in age, vaccination standing and journey historical past, however none of them have developed extreme illness thus far.
Whereas some sufferers had not too long ago traveled in southern Africa, the place the variant was first detected, others had no journey historical past, indicating that neighborhood transmission is underway within the U.S.
“We completely have neighborhood unfold on this nation,” Dr. Anthony Fauci advised Bloomberg Tv on Friday. “We do not know what number of of them, however there is no doubt there’s neighborhood unfold.”
Scientists and public well being officers are nonetheless gathering information on whether or not omicron is extra transmissible, higher evades immune safety from vaccines, and/or causes extra extreme illness than different variants.
Those that have examined optimistic within the U.S. have all proven gentle to average signs and not one of the sufferers have been hospitalized thus far, in line with essentially the most present data from state public well being departments. Nevertheless, gentle circumstances of Covid can progress to extra extreme illness over time.
Most of the individuals who have examined optimistic within the U.S. have been absolutely vaccinated. Not less than two of the sufferers who have been immunized had not acquired booster pictures but, however one other particular person had acquired their extra dose. And in a minimum of one case, an individual who had beforehand recovered from Covid examined optimistic for omicron.
Whereas the handful of circumstances within the U.S. do not present any definitive solutions about omicron, the World Well being Group stated Friday that early information suggests the virus is extra contagious. And South African scientists printed a research, which has not but been peer reviewed, that discovered omicron carries a better threat of reinfecting individuals who beforehand caught Covid than previous variants.
Though a number of the individuals who examined optimistic for omicron have been absolutely vaccinated, the truth that they’ve developed gentle signs means that the pictures are nonetheless offering safety towards extreme illness from the variant, U.S. well being officers stated. Fauci stated Friday throughout a White Home Covid briefing that lab research point out booster pictures improve antibody safety towards a spread of variants.
“There’s each purpose to consider that in case you get vaccinated and boosted that you’d have a minimum of a point of cross-protection,” Fauci stated, “very possible towards extreme illness, even towards the omicron variant.”
California
California confirmed the primary U.S. case of omicron Wednesday in an individual who not too long ago returned from South Africa to the San Francisco space. The particular person was between 18 and 49 years of age, absolutely vaccinated and was not eligible for his or her booster shot but, in line with Gov. Gavin Newsom. The particular person confirmed gentle signs and is predicted to make a full restoration, Newsom stated Wednesday.
“The proof that a person with omicron recognized by sequencing really has gentle signs, is enhancing, I believe is a sworn statement to the significance of the vaccinations,” stated Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Well being and Human Providers secretary.
California confirmed a second omicron case Thursday within the Los Angeles space. That grownup was additionally absolutely vaccinated and had not too long ago returned from South Africa through London, in line with the town well being division. The particular person’s signs are enhancing with out medical care, officers stated.
“This an infection is almost certainly travel-related,” the Los Angeles County public health department said. The division, citing privateness issues, wouldn’t disclose the particular person’s age or booster standing when requested by CNBC on Friday.
Minnesota
In Minnesota on Thursday, public well being officers confirmed an omicron case in an grownup male who was absolutely vaccinated and had not too long ago returned from an anime conference on the Javits Heart in New York Metropolis. His signs have been gentle and have since resolved, according to the state health department.
The Minnesota resident had acquired a booster shot previous to attending the conference in New York, Minnesota public well being spokesman Doug Schultz advised CNBC on Friday.
Colorado
On Thursday morning, Colorado confirmed a case of omicron in a totally vaccinated grownup girl who had not acquired a booster shot. The lady, like the primary case in California, had a current journey historical past to southern Africa, the place the variant was first detected. She is experiencing minor signs and is recovering at dwelling, according to Colorado’s health department.
Gov. Jared Polis advised residents throughout a press convention Thursday that well being officers consider neighborhood unfold is low in Colorado in the intervening time. Well being officers haven’t but detected omicron by wastewater evaluation, they usually haven’t detected a second case by genetic sequencing but.
“So if it was prevalent, we’d know — it does not imply it is nonexistent,” Polis stated.
Hawaii
Hawaii confirmed a case in Oahu on Thursday in an individual who was beforehand contaminated with Covid, was by no means vaccinated and had no journey historical past, according to the state health department. The particular person is displaying average signs, it stated.
“It is a case of neighborhood unfold,” the division stated in a press launch.
Nebraska
Nebraska confirmed six omicron circumstances Friday, in a transmission chain that seems to have began with an individual who not too long ago traveled to Nigeria. The opposite 5 individuals have been possible uncovered by family contact with the one that had traveled to Africa, in line with the state well being division. Solely one of many six individuals was vaccinated, however none of them have required hospitalization.
Maryland
Maryland on Friday confirmed three individuals from the Baltimore metro space examined optimistic for omicron. Two of the individuals are from the identical family, a vaccinated one who had not too long ago traveled to South Africa and an in depth contact of that one who was unvaccinated. The third case was in a vaccinated one who had no recognized current journey historical past, in line with state officers.
“Not one of the three people are hospitalized,” Gov. Larry Hogan stated in a press launch.
Pennsylvania
A person in his 30s from northwest Philadelphia has examined optimistic for omicron, metropolis officers confirmed on Friday. Philadelphia’s well being division stated it’s working to get extra data on the case.
Missouri
A St. Louis resident with current home journey historical past is presumed optimistic for omicron, the Missouri state well being division stated Friday. The pattern was sequenced by a business lab and is awaiting affirmation by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
The Missouri state well being division didn’t present data on the person’s age, vaccination historical past or signs. Spokeswoman Lisa Cox advised CNBC Saturday the state has no additional data at the moment.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Division of Well being has confirmed a case of omicron in a traveler from Georgia who was not too long ago in South Africa. The grownup girl, who’s absolutely vaccinated, skilled average signs and is now recovering after receiving care in an emergency division in northern New Jersey, in line with state well being officers.
New York
New York has recognized eight circumstances complete of the omicron variant.
A complete of seven New York Metropolis residents and one from Suffolk County are confirmed to have the virus, as of Saturday morning.
New York Metropolis Well being Commissioner Dave Chokshi advised the general public Thursday that the circumstances point out there’s neighborhood unfold within the state.
“This isn’t simply people who find themselves touring to southern Africa or to different components of the world the place omicron has already been recognized,” Chokshi stated.
Utah
Utah confirmed its first case of the omicron variant, public well being officers confirmed Friday.
Officers stated the person who examined optimistic was an older grownup who not too long ago returned dwelling to Utah after touring to South Africa.
The particular person is absolutely vaccinated and confirmed solely gentle signs. They acquired monoclonal antibody remedy.