New York has confirmed five cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, taking the tally of the strain in the US to eight, Governor Kathy Hochul informed on Friday.
“New York State has confirmed five cases of the omicron variant. Let me be clear: This is not cause for alarm. We knew this variant was coming and we have the tools to stop the spread,” Kathy Hochul said in a tweet.
“Get your vaccine. Get your booster. Wear your mask,” she said
Other cases of the Omicron variant in the US have been reported in the state of Minnesota, Colorado, while the first case of the variant was detected in California, in a person who had recently travelled to South Africa.
The US has reported eight cases on Omicron variant so far, involving a person with no recent international travel history, signaling the strain is already circulating inside the country.
The new potentially more contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 24, and has been designated as a “Variant of Concern” by the global body, which named it “Omicron”.
Several countries have imposed travel restrictions on the southern African nations since the mutation was discovered.