Omicron variant found in Minn. with links to NYC

U. S. and New York City health officials said Thursday that they were working closely with authorities in Minnesota after that state reported the nation’s second confirmed case of the omicron coronavirus variant.

The first U. S. case was reported in California on Wednesday. The variant was first identified in South Africa last week and has now been found in about two dozen countries.

The Minnesota Department of Health said a state resident who recently traveled to New York City was found to be infected with the variant. The man experienced mild symptoms Nov. 22, was tested Nov. 24 and no longer has symptoms.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the agency has been monitoring and preparing for omicron and is working with officials in Minnesota.

“CDC has expanded its capacity for genomic sequencing over the past nine months and we have more tools to fight the variant than we had at this time last year,” she said in a statement.

Vaccines, boosters, masking in indoor public settings, washing hands frequently and physical distancing “work to prevent the spread of COVID- 19, no matter the genetic sequence,” she said.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said city officials are aware of the Minnesota case and its link with travel to New York. The conference the traveler attended required masks and complied with the city’s vaccination requirements, he said.

“We should assume there is community spread of the variant in our city,” de Blasio said.