A COVID-19 testing facility is marketed at Newark Liberty International Airport on November 30, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey.
Spencer Platt | Getty Images
More than 20 folks in no less than 12 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.
While 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 Television on Friday. “We do not know what number of of them, however there is not any 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 who’ve examined optimistic within the U.S. have all proven gentle to reasonable signs and not one of the sufferers have been hospitalized thus far, based on probably the most present data from state public well being departments. However, gentle instances of Covid can progress to extra extreme illness over time.
Many of the individuals who have examined optimistic within the U.S. have been absolutely vaccinated. At least two of the sufferers who have been immunized had not acquired booster photographs but, however one other individual had acquired their further dose. And in no less than one case, an individual who had beforehand recovered from Covid examined optimistic for omicron.
While the handful of instances within the U.S. do not present any definitive solutions about omicron, the World Health Organization mentioned 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 the next danger of reinfecting individuals who beforehand caught Covid than previous variants.
Although among the individuals who examined optimistic for omicron have been absolutely vaccinated, the truth that they’ve developed gentle signs means that the photographs are nonetheless offering safety towards extreme illness from the variant, U.S. well being officers mentioned. Fauci mentioned Friday throughout a White House Covid briefing that lab research point out booster photographs enhance antibody safety towards a spread of variants.
“There’s each motive to consider that should you get vaccinated and boosted that you’d have no less than some extent of cross-protection,” Fauci mentioned, “very seemingly 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 individual was between 18 and 49 years of age, absolutely vaccinated and was not eligible for his or her booster shot but, based on Gov. Gavin Newsom. The individual confirmed gentle signs and is predicted to make a full restoration, Newsom mentioned Wednesday.
“The proof that a person with omicron recognized by sequencing truly has gentle signs, is enhancing, I feel is a sworn statement to the significance of the vaccinations,” mentioned Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services 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, based on town well being division. The individual’s signs are enhancing with out medical care, officers mentioned.
“This an infection is almost definitely travel-related,” the Los Angeles County public well being division mentioned. The division, citing privateness considerations, wouldn’t disclose the individual’s age or booster standing when requested by CNBC on Friday.
Colorado
On Thursday morning, Colorado confirmed a case of omicron in a totally vaccinated grownup lady 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 house, based on Colorado’s well being division.
Gov. Jared Polis advised residents throughout a press convention Thursday that well being officers consider neighborhood unfold is low in Colorado in the mean time. Health officers haven’t but detected omicron via wastewater evaluation, they usually haven’t detected a second case via genetic sequencing but.
“So if it was prevalent, we might know — it doesn’t suggest it is nonexistent,” Polis mentioned.
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, based on the state well being division. The individual is exhibiting reasonable signs, it mentioned.
“This is a case of neighborhood unfold,” the division mentioned in a press launch.
Maryland
Maryland on Friday confirmed three folks from the Baltimore metro space examined optimistic for omicron. Two of the persons 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, based on state officers.
“None of the three people are hospitalized,” Gov. Larry Hogan mentioned in a press launch.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health introduced the state’s first omicron COVID-19 coronavirus case on Saturday.
The contaminated individual is a feminine in her 20s who traveled out of the state. Officials mentioned she is absolutely vaccinated, skilled gentle illness and didn’t require hospitalization.
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 Center in New York City. His signs have been gentle and have since resolved, based on the state well being division.
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.
Missouri
A St. Louis resident with current home journey historical past is presumed optimistic for omicron, the Missouri state well being division mentioned Friday. The pattern was sequenced by a industrial lab and is awaiting affirmation by the Centers for Disease Control 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 right now.
Nebraska
Nebraska confirmed six omicron instances Friday, in a transmission chain that seems to have began with an individual who not too long ago traveled to Nigeria. The different 5 folks have been seemingly uncovered via family contact with the one that had traveled to Africa, based on the state well being division. Only one of many six folks was vaccinated, however none of them have required hospitalization.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Health has confirmed a case of omicron in a traveler from Georgia who was not too long ago in South Africa. The grownup lady, who’s absolutely vaccinated, skilled reasonable signs and is now recovering after receiving care in an emergency division in northern New Jersey, based on state well being officers.
New York
New York has recognized eight instances whole of the omicron variant.
A complete of seven New York City residents and one from Suffolk County are confirmed to have the virus, as of Saturday morning.
New York City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi advised the general public Thursday that the instances point out there may be neighborhood unfold within the state.
“This isn’t just people who find themselves touring to southern Africa or to different components of the world the place omicron has already been recognized,” Chokshi mentioned.
Pennsylvania
A person in his 30s from northwest Philadelphia has examined optimistic for omicron, metropolis officers confirmed on Friday. Philadelphia’s well being division mentioned it’s working to get extra data on the case.
Utah
Utah confirmed its first case of the omicron variant, public well being officers confirmed Friday.
Officials mentioned the person who examined optimistic was an older grownup who not too long ago returned house to Utah after touring to South Africa.
The individual is absolutely vaccinated and confirmed solely gentle signs. They acquired monoclonal antibody therapy.
—CNBC’s Jessica Bursztynsky contributed to this report.