More than 20 individuals within the US have examined optimistic for Omicron. Here’s what we all know concerning the circumstances up to now

More than 20 individuals in 11 US states have examined optimistic for the Omicron model of the virus that causes COVID-19. Patients vary in age, vaccination standing and journey historical past, however none of them have developed critical sickness up to now.

While some sufferers had just lately traveled to southern Africa, the place the variant was first detected, others had no journey historical past, indicating that neighborhood transmission is ongoing within the US.

“We have a whole lot of community spread in this country,” Dr. Anthony Fauci instructed Bloomberg tv on Friday. “We don’t know how many of them there are, but there is no doubt that there has been community spread.”

Scientists and public well being officers are nonetheless accumulating knowledge on whether or not Omicron is extra permeable, evades higher immune safety from vaccines, and/or causes extra extreme illness than different sorts.

According to essentially the most present data from state public well being departments, all those that have examined optimistic within the US have proven delicate to average signs and no sufferers have been hospitalized up to now. However, delicate circumstances of COVID can flip into extra extreme illness over time.

Many of the individuals who examined optimistic within the US had been totally vaccinated. At least two sufferers who had been immunized had not but obtained booster photographs, however one other individual had obtained their further dose. And in at the least one case, an individual who had beforehand recovered from COVID examined optimistic for Omicron.

While a handful of circumstances within the US supply no definitive reply about omicrons, the World Health Organization mentioned on Friday that early knowledge suggests the virus is extra contagious. And South African scientists revealed a research that hasn’t but been peer-reviewed, discovering that omicron carries a better danger of re-infecting individuals who first caught COVID than earlier variants. Was.

Although some individuals who examined optimistic for Omicron had been totally vaccinated, the truth that they developed delicate signs means that the photographs nonetheless supply safety towards extreme illness from the variant, in accordance with U.S. Health. officers mentioned. Fauci mentioned throughout a White House COVID briefing on Friday that laboratory research point out that booster photographs improve antibody safety towards quite a lot of variants.

“There’s every reason to believe that if you vaccinate and boost you’ll have at least some degree of cross-protection,” Fauci mentioned, “against serious disease, even against the Omicron variant.” Too.

California on Wednesday confirmed the primary US case of Omicron in a person who had just lately returned from South Africa to the San Francisco space. Gavin Newsom, the person was between 18 and 49 years outdated, totally vaccinated and never but eligible for his booster shot. Newsom mentioned on Wednesday that the person confirmed delicate signs and is predicted to make a full restoration.

“The evidence that a person with an oomicron identified by sequencing actually has mild symptoms, is improving, I think is evidence of the importance of vaccination,” mentioned Dr. Mark Galley, California Secretary of Health and Human Services.

California confirmed a second Omicron case Thursday within the Los Angeles space. According to town’s well being division, the grownup was additionally totally vaccinated and had just lately returned from South Africa through London. Officials mentioned the individual’s signs had been bettering with out medical care.

“This infection is most likely travel-related,” The Los Angeles County Public Health Department said, The division, citing privateness considerations, wouldn’t disclose the individual’s age or booster standing when requested by CNBC on Friday.

On Thursday in Minnesota, public well being officers confirmed an Omicron case in an grownup male who had been totally vaccinated and had just lately returned from an anime conference on the Javits Center in New York City. Her signs had been delicate and have since recovered, According to the state health department.

The Minnesota resident had obtained a booster shot earlier than attending the conference in New York, Minnesota public well being spokesman Doug Schultz instructed CNBC on Friday.

On Thursday morning, Colorado confirmed a case of Omicron in a completely vaccinated grownup lady who had not obtained a booster shot. Like the primary case in California, the girl had a latest journey historical past to southern Africa, the place the variant was first detected. She is experiencing minor signs and is recovering at residence, According to the Colorado Department of Health.

Gov. Jared Polis instructed residents throughout a press convention on Thursday that well being officers consider neighborhood unfold is low in Colorado right now. Health officers have but to detect Omicron via wastewater evaluation, they usually have but to detect a second case via genetic sequencing.

“So if it was prevalent, we would know — that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent,” Polis mentioned.

Hawaii on Thursday confirmed the case in Oahu of a person who was beforehand contaminated with COVID, had by no means been vaccinated and had no journey historical past, According to the state health department. This individual is displaying average signs, it mentioned.

“This is a case of community spread,” the division mentioned in a press launch.

Nebraska confirmed six Omicron circumstances on Friday, in a transmission chain that seems to have began with an individual who just lately traveled to Nigeria. According to the state well being division, the opposite 5 individuals had been uncovered via family contact with an individual who had traveled to Africa. Only one in six individuals was vaccinated, however none of them required hospitalization.

Maryland confirmed Friday that three individuals within the Baltimore metro space examined optimistic for Omicron. Two of the individuals are from the identical family, a vaccinated one that had just lately traveled to South Africa and had shut contact with an individual who was not vaccinated. The third case was of a vaccinated one that, in accordance with state officers, had no details about latest journey historical past.

“None of the three individuals are hospitalized,” Gov. Larry Hogan mentioned in a press launch.

A person in his 30s from northwest Philadelphia has examined optimistic for Omicron, metropolis officers confirmed Friday. Philadelphia’s Department of Health mentioned it was working to acquire extra data on the matter.

The Missouri State Department of Health mentioned Friday {that a} St. Louis resident with a latest historical past of home journey is taken into account optimistic for Omicron. The pattern was sequenced by a industrial laboratory and is awaiting affirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Missouri state well being division didn’t present details about the individual’s age, vaccination historical past, or signs. CNBC has reached out to state well being officers for extra particulars.

The New Jersey Department of Health has confirmed a case of Omicron in a Georgia traveler who had just lately been to South Africa. The grownup lady, who has been totally vaccinated, skilled average signs and is now recovering after receiving care at an emergency division in northern New Jersey, in accordance with state well being officers.

New York recognized 5 circumstances of the Omicron sort Thursday night, however particulars are sparse.

A 67-year-old lady in Suffolk County just lately examined optimistic after touring to South Africa, in accordance with Gov. Kathy Hochul. The affected person had some vaccination historical past, however it isn’t clear whether or not he was totally immunized or obtained a booster. The lady has proven delicate signs together with headache and cough.

Two individuals additionally examined optimistic in Queens, New York City, and one other individual examined optimistic in Brooklyn, however their vaccination historical past was unknown as of Thursday night. Another passenger additionally reportedly examined optimistic within the metropolis, although the governor didn’t present any further data.

CNBC has contacted the New York City Department of Health requesting extra details about the vaccination standing and signs of people that examined optimistic for Omicron.

New York City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi instructed the general public Thursday that the circumstances point out there was neighborhood unfold within the state.

“It’s not just people traveling to southern Africa or other parts of the world where Omicrons have been identified,” Chokshi mentioned.

Utah confirmed its first case of the Omicron model, public well being officers confirmed Friday.

Officials mentioned the one who examined optimistic was an older grownup who had just lately returned residence to Utah after touring to South Africa.

The individual has been totally vaccinated and is displaying solely delicate signs. He obtained monoclonal antibody therapy.