Omicron variant found in Bay State
The omicron variant has made it to Massachusetts, as a woman from Middlesex County who had traveled out of state has been diagnosed with the first case of it here, the Department of Public Health announced Saturday.
The woman is in her 20s and is fully vaccinated. She has mild disease that has not required hospitalization, according to DPH.
The case — the first in the Bay State of the new omicron strain — was identified through genomic sequencing performed at New England Biolabs, which has its headquarters in Ipswich.
There is some limited evidence that omicron could be more transmissible than other variants such as delta, but scientists are still working to find out more information. It remains unclear whether omicron is more severe or if it can evade immunity.
The strain has been found in at least 38 countries and was first detected by researchers in South Africa where fewer than 6% of the population is vaccinated. Omicron has infected people in at least a dozen states. Seven cases alone have been found in New York City.
Coronavirus vaccines are expected to provide a level of protection against the omicron variant. Standard public health measures such as handwashing, masking and social distancing will also help to stop the spread of omicron.
The highly contagious delta variant still remains the dominant strain in the United States.
The arrival of omicron could not have come at a worse time. Cases across the nation have been surging and hospital capacity in some states is reaching its maximum. Massachusetts has seen case counts above 5,000 this week for the first time in nearly a year and hospitalizations tipped over 1,000.
The surge has been attributed to the delta variant, the arrival of colder weather and the millions of Americans who remain unvaccinated.
In response to the winter surge and the omicron variant, President Biden earlier this week announced new international travel protocols along with other coronavirus supports.
Americans will now be able to get free at-home coronavirus rapid tests via insurance reimbursement and 60 COVID response teams will be made available to states experiencing high patient volumes and low staffing levels in hospitals.
South African scientists are warning that reinfections among people who’ve already battled COVID-19 appear to be more likely with the new omicron variant than with earlier coronavirus mutants.
A research group has been tracking reinfections in South Africa and reported a jump with the arrival of omicron that they hadn’t seen when two previous variants, including the extra-contagious delta variant, moved through the country. The preliminary findings have yet to undergo scientific review.