Six extra U.S. states confirmed infections of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Friday however the Delta pressure seemingly stays a higher risk as winter units in and People collect for the vacations, consultants mentioned.
New Jersey, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Utah every reported their first circumstances of the Omicron variant on Friday. Missouri was awaiting CDC affirmation of a case involving a St. Louis resident who had lately traveled inside the USA.
Scientists are nonetheless investigating the affect of the extremely contagious Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa. Early proof has steered it could trigger milder sickness than its predecessors, together with Delta.
The outbreak of Omicron has made worldwide headlines and prompted political leaders to impose new COVID-19 restrictions. However the predominant U.S. pressure stays Delta, Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), instructed a briefing on the White Home.
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The Utah case was found by means of ongoing genetic sequencing of optimistic COVID-19 samples on the state laboratory, the state’s well being division mentioned on Twitter.
Nebraska had six confirmed circumstances, the state’s well being division mentioned. Solely one of many six individuals was vaccinated and none have wanted to be hospitalized with COVID-19, the division added.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan introduced the primary three circumstances of the Omicron variant in his state, including that not one of the three people have been hospitalized. And in Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia man in his 30s examined optimistic for Omicron, metropolis well being officers mentioned.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy mentioned the state’s first Omicron case had been present in a fully-vaccinated lady who had lately traveled to Georgia.
A surge in infections may additional pressure U.S. hospitals already grappling with excessive case hundreds and fatigued workers, Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown College’s College of Public Well being, instructed MSNBC.
“I’m very fearful about our healthcare system over the subsequent few weeks and few months. I don’t know the way way more it may deal with,” he mentioned, urging reinforcements from the Nationwide Guard and different contingency plans to bolster medical doctors and nurses.
Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb mentioned states with increased vaccination charges would seemingly be higher protected towards Omicron, saying unvaccinated individuals who survived Delta may discover their immunity just isn’t protecting towards the brand new variant.
“The danger for the long run is that states which can be counting on loads of Delta infections to offer immunity to their populations… they may very well be extra vulnerable to this new variant,” Gottlieb, now a member of vaccine maker Pfizer’s board, instructed CNBC.
Learn extra:
Don’t look forward to potential Omicron booster — Delta nonetheless dominant, prime medical doctors say
Omicron has been detected in about 40 nations, together with the USA, the place it has additionally been present in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, and New York.
The CDC mentioned it was investigating potential circumstances of the Omicron variant in different U.S. states.
(Reporting by Caitlin Webber, Dan Whitcomb and Susan Heavey; extra reporting by Barbara Goldberg; modifying by Tim Ahmann, Aurora Ellis and Rosalba O’Brien)
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