The first case of the omicron coronavirus variant has arrived in New Jersey, identified in a Georgia woman who traveled to the state, the state Department of Health and Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday evening.
The woman, who is fully vaccinated, had recently traveled to South Africa, officials said.
Since she tested positive on Nov. 28, the woman has remained in isolation and has experienced moderate symptoms, state officials said. She was recovering Friday after receiving care in an unidentified North Jersey hospital, authorities said.
“The Omicron variant is among us and we need to take steps to stop its spread. It is vital that residents remain as vigilant as possible as we await more information about the variant,” Murphy said in a statement. “Vaccinations and mask wearing have proven to be an effective tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and I urge everyone ages 18 and over to receive a booster.”
The New Jersey Department of Health laboratory performed sequencing on the specimen to confirm it was the Omicron variant, whichhas rapidly spread around the globe since it was first discovered late last month in South Africa.
It has since been been identified in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, prompting the U.S. and other nations to implement travel restrictions that experts say probably came too late to halt its spread.
“With cases increasing and the identification of the Omicron in the state, the fight against COVID-19 is not over,” New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said in a statement. “We are still learning about the Omicron variant, but we have tools to stop the spread of the virus, most important among them is to get vaccinated and get a booster dose. The public should continue to mask up, get tested if they have symptoms, physically distance, avoid crowded events, stay home when sick and wash hands frequently.”
The first omicron case in the U.S. was found this week in California. It has since been discovered in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania, including a case involving a man who attended a large anime convention in New York City in late November and tested positive for the strain when he returned home to the North Star State.
The World Health Organization has designated omicron a “variant of concern,” saying it poses a “very high” global risk.
It arrived in the Garden State while the dominant delta strain continues to drive up COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates. As of Friday night, 1,112 New Jersey residents are hospitalized with the coronavirus, with 208 in intensive care and 93 on ventilators. The state’s seven-day average for new positive tests surged to 2,499 on Friday, up 128% from last month. It is the highest average since April 24.
“What scientists are trying to figure out is if this variant is more transmissible, is it causing more severe illnesses than other variants?” Stephanie Silvera, an infectious disease expert and professor at Montclair State University, told NJ Advance Media earlier this week. “The delta variant [for instance] seems more transmissible than other variants that we have seen. And they’ll be looking at whether or not it ultimately evades vaccine protection. It’s just not something we can know yet.”
Omicron has thus far resulted in mild or moderate cases of COVID-19, according to health professionals. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week that every American adult should receive a booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine if eligible because of the threat the strain presents.
Dr. Suraj Saggar, chief of infectious disease at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, said “now is not the time” to let your guard down, especially as the winter months and the holidays converge.
The United States’ first confirmed omicron case was identified Wednesday. It involved a fully vaccinated individual who traveled from South Africa to California on Nov. 22 — before travel restrictions were established — and tested positive Nov. 29.
The person was experiencing “mild symptoms, which are improving at this point,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
This week, President Joe Biden called omicron “a cause for concern, not a cause for panic.”
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Omicron is here. The first case of the concerning COVID variant identified in N.J. - nj.com
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