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As scientists around the world race to determine whether the new, mutant version of the coronavirus is more dangerous than previous ones, the United States reported its first confirmed case of the omicron variant on Wednesday, in a vaccinated traveller returning to California after a trip to South Africa.
The discovery was made public at the White House by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease specialist.
“We knew the first instance of omicron would be found in the United States,” he said.
A traveller who returned from South Africa on November 22 showed minor symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday was identified as the infected person. On Tuesday evening, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, took a sample from the patient and worked tirelessly all night to piece together the genetic sequence.
The person is improving, according to California officials, after receiving the full two doses of the Moderna vaccination and not yet scheduled for a booster shot.
Americans should continue to obtain their vaccinations and booster shots, according to Fauci and other medical experts. The vaccination has been shown to minimise the risk of serious illness and death, and Fauci believes it is likely to protect against the omicron form as well.
California Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly stated the mildness of the sickness “is a testimonial to the effectiveness of vaccines.”
Officials stated they had reached out to all of the individual’s close contacts, who have all tested negative. The patient was only identified as being between the ages of 18 and 49 when he consented to stay in quarantine.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom voiced confidence in the state’s efforts to contain the virus, saying he did not plan to issue another stay-at-home order or other shutdown measures.
Since South African authorities initially detected the variation a week ago, at least 23 additional countries have confirmed omicron illnesses, prompting the United States and many other countries to ban aircraft travellers from southern Africa almost immediately.
Authorities in South Africa announced Wednesday that new cases of COVID-19 nearly doubled in a single day to roughly 8,600, and the country’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases stated the omicron version had now surpassed the delta variant among samples that have been genetically examined.
However, there are still a lot of unknowns about the variant, including: Is it, as some scientists believe, more contagious than other versions? Is it worsening people’s illnesses? Is it possible for it to get around the vaccine?
“I believe it is too early to determine what will or will not happen with this variety,” Fauci added.
It will take two to three weeks, according to European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to completely understand what omicron can accomplish for the world.
“This is a short term in typical circumstances. “It seems like an eternity in times of pandemic,” she bemoaned.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in California validated the genetic study of the patient’s virus performed by UCSF.
“In the following days or weeks, we will almost certainly see this situation play out several times around the country,” said Scott Becker, CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories.
The United States is working to make it mandatory for all air travellers to be tested for COVID-19 one day before to boarding their flights, rather than the existing three days.
The World Health Organization cautioned on Wednesday that blanket travel bans are making it difficult for experts to share South African lab samples that could help them comprehend the new type.
At the same time as the omicron form spreads new dread and uncertainty, the dominant delta variety continues to do havoc, particularly in Europe. Despite a relatively high vaccination rate of 67 percent of the European Union’s population, many nations are grappling with an increase in illnesses and hospitalizations.
Von der Leyen indicated for the first time that EU countries should consider making vaccinations mandatory. People above the age of 60 in Greece will be fined if they refuse to take the vaccine. In addition, German Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz has stated that he will support a proposal to make vaccination mandatory for all citizens.
