CDC: First case omicron variant confirmed in California

ATLANTA, Ga. (WKBT) — The omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The California and San Francisco Departments of Public Health confirmed a recent case of COVID-19 was caused by the omicron variant, also known as B.1.1.529.  The person was fully vaccinated and had mild symptoms that are improving, according to the CDC.

The person recently returned to the U.S. from South Africa on Nov. 22 and is self-quarantining.

Genomic sequencing was conducted at the University of California, San Francisco.

“CDC has been actively monitoring and preparing for this variant, and we will continue to work diligently with other U.S. and global public health and industry partners to learn more. Despite the detection of Omicron, Delta remains the predominant strain in the United States,” said the CDC in a statement.

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